Eurogamer

The amount of time the average US gamer spends using the Xbox 360's various entertainment apps now surpasses the time they spend playing videogames online through Xbox Live, Microsoft has revealed.

As reported by The Verge, entertainment app usage has more than doubled in the past year, contributing to a global 30 per cent increase in the total hours spent on Xbox Live.

Microsoft claims this means that US Xbox Live members now spend more time watching TV, music, and movies than they do playing multiplayer games. However, it didn't offer any stats showing how app usage compares to all gameplay.

The platform holder also revealed that US Xbox Live gold members spend an average of 84 hours a month logged into the service.

TV and movie on demand services have been a major focus for Microsoft over the past few months, with a number of providers signing up to offer their content through the console. Just last week, the BBC finally brought its iPlayer app to the system.

When that announcement was made, Xbox Live product manager Pav Bhardwaj told Eurogamer that the amount of time spent on multiplayer gaming "hasn't reduced at all" - rather, everything else has just gone up.

"We're seeing more people spending more time on the Xbox Live platform," he explained.

"The people who are using the platform to enjoy multiplayer gaming, like Call of Duty and Gears of War and Halo, they're still doing that at the same amount of time they were spending previously. What they're now doing is spending even more time watching TV, movies and sport, via their Xbox 360."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-27-xbox-360-entertainment-app-usage-surpasses-online-gaming

Guilty. Even when I don't have time to play a game, I often have Last.FM or Netflix running in the background while I do other things.

If they use it for entertainment, wouldn't it make much more sense to get Playstation next where online is FREE?
~$350 USD of online fees in 7 years is not insignificant.

Ps3 for apps ?? Lol Ps3 layout isnt even funny and well... its bad,

On 360 its gorgeous, interactive and works phenomenally well, thats why its popular just like Xbox Live.

I love Youtube, its awesome BUT i spend more times on gaming.

Actually $350 for 7 years is pretty insignificant. Unless of course you are that poor/budget constrained which in that case you shouldn't even own a gaming console.

It makes perfect sense if you are already using the 360 to play games. After all I highly doubt there will be many people that pick up a 360 simply to use it for TV shows and whatnot (although the 360 does make a pretty mean all in one entertainment box)

Netflix and Hulu+ is used daily in my household. I might need to pick up another Xbox exclusively for the apps that my family uses.

It would make sense but the problem is PSN dont offer nearly as much services as XBL. Yes its free doesnt mean its better. No offense. 

sigh...Free doesn't mean better, I think people like yourself cant be reminded of that enough. 

But $350 over 7 years really is pocket change. You make minimum wage thats still $20 000 per year (at least it is in Canada). $140 000 in 7 years. Again, minimum wage. Never mind if your a kid your parents buy it and if your older your probably making at least double with your career. 

Sometimes, people dont mind paying a little more to get the best. 

last gen
come home, game till dinner

now
come home... bored... bored..... netflix??????? dinner
sad state of affairs this gen, when i have over 30 games and all 3 consoles and bored when last gen original xbox and 5 games were enough for years.