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Microsoft may incorporate its Xbox 360 subscription services on offer into the next-Xbox console, the firm has hinted to the Wall Street Journal.

The firm’s general manager for marketing, Matt Barlow, said the new program is “pivotal” to the firm’s business and while US only at present, it will one day be extended to the international consumer.

“Back in June, we talked about how this is the year Xbox becomes the premium entertainment service for Microsoft,” added Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing officer for Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Division.

“While our success with Xbox to date has been led by a box in the living room, we’re now reaching individuals in new and exciting ways across PCs, tablets and phones. Xbox will be a gateway to the best in movies, TV shows, music, sports, your favourite games and instant access to your friends, wherever you are.

“We realize some may ask, ‘Why are all these apps called Xbox, isn’t Xbox just a game console?’ For us the decision to have Xbox stand for our broad entertainment efforts was a simple one. It is a natural evolution of our consumer offering.

“Even as Xbox has become the number one game console in the world, and continued to deliver arguably the best line up of games in our history, we have seen the use of Xbox broaden to watching TV/movies and listening to music.”

Mehdi said with the world currently a multi-device one, with millions of people “enjoying entertainment on their Xbox within arm’s reach of another device,” and Microsoft plans to take advantage of this through offering its service “seamlessly across devices.”

“We knew we needed a single name for all entertainment experiences from our company and nothing means entertainment at Microsoft more than Xbox,” Medhi concluded.

Thanks, Eurogamer.

I smell an expensive Xbox Durango next year. The more they can push this contract plan to the video game market, the easier it will be to launch with an expensive console hidden behind monthly fees.

Only way I would order a console on a subscription basis is if I can cancel my cable subscription, get all the same content and my bill doesn't go up.

If MS pulls that off and gives me an Xbox 720 beast of a console with TV, gaming, Xbox live, PVR and internet capabilities...for like 199, plus 30-40 dollars per month...I'm in.

I still don't know what's the problem of this(see eurogamer comment),i mean i used subscription service to bought PS1/2/Wii/360,it's very common in Hong Kong

Comment section is full of trolls, say pay no attention to them.

This is a rip off. I'm sorry but it's true. $450+ for an Xbox 360 is ridiculous.
Instead of decreasing the price, Microsoft is increasing it.

I pray to god that people are smart enough to do simple math.

All you need to do is provide games for your console and people will buy it. If you are concerned about the install base of your console, decrease the price! This is how this works. Don't fool people into thinking your console is cheaper than the others and trick them into paying monthly fees.

/rant

All depends on value proposition. People are used to such services elsewhere (smartphones for one), so we'll have to see.

Where it is extremely forward thinking on the part of MS, though, is in that can immediately soften the blow of what likely will be a large initial investment on a new console. If Sony had the foresight to try this with the PS3, history might've turned out very differently ...

The thing is that paying $14.99 for Xbox Live a month is a HUGE rip off. There are alternatives to this and arguably offer much better value for your money. With smartphones, we pay to have access to a network EVERYWHERE WE GO, with Xbox Live you're paying to have access to the your own internet connection.

Xbox Live isn't as advanced as PSN anymore. It is not worth a subscription fee of $14.99 a month.

@Darth Tigris
PS3 was $600 at launch. I'm sure there were payment plans you could set up just like you do with a TV. No contract or subscription fee required.

sad thing is the public havw shown there this stupid. look at the cellphone business and all there contracts where the phone is "supposedly free". the public are stupid in general mainly because their ignorant

No one is going to take you serious with post like this. All in all I agree with the rest of your post.