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Forums - Microsoft - Can Microsoft's gaming division still be profitable with free XBL?

bobobologna on 30 June 2008
De85 said:
Jandre002 said:
Well while before it was clear live was better, now it will be left up to preference. In game messaging, an achievement system, all of that will be on the PSN and it will be free. I think everyone can agree (unless you really hate Sony) that if Sony is offering it for free, the extra features you get out of the Xbox360.

 

I can do both of these already on my free Silver account.

 


It's a shame you can't actually play games online with those friends you are messaging with your free silver account.



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PIMP on 30 June 2008
bobobologna said:
De85 said:
Jandre002 said:
Well while before it was clear live was better, now it will be left up to preference. In game messaging, an achievement system, all of that will be on the PSN and it will be free. I think everyone can agree (unless you really hate Sony) that if Sony is offering it for free, the extra features you get out of the Xbox360.

 

I can do both of these already on my free Silver account.

 


It's a shame you can't actually play games online with those friends you are messaging with your free silver account.

And it's also a shame that it took almost 2 years for SONY to put only some of the features that XBL has and when is HOME coming again?

 



bumidan on 30 June 2008

From what I know, the only thing that the Canadian $59.99 Retail Price for 13 months (= $4.61 per month) of XBLive GOLD is to play ONLINE.

All other features are FREE. If you don't have the GOLD membership, you can still:

-download demos and play them (after 1 week - but it used to be NO DELAYS)
-PAY for all the content you want
-browse all you want
-download videos and trailers
-view previews of movies
-etc..

Would it be better if it was FREE? Definitely.

MSFT is not making BOATLOADS of money on LIVE Gold - their financials just don't show it.

Though I think Sony is LOSING money on the PSN service because their financials show it, especially if they allocate all those expenses under the PS3 division.



bumidan on 30 June 2008

Clarification:

Losing, as in, having to maintain the services without much revenue coming in (for Sony)



mjhill on 30 June 2008

Also no one mentioned that 360 is more than 50 cheaper than a ps3 so therefore my live is already paid for at least a year.



I try to be reasonable at all times, offer the same back please.

Proud owner of all next gen consoles.

"We do it for the Glory"

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endimion on 01 July 2008

lol you do realize the question was about profitability with free live... guys ???



Strategyking92 on 01 July 2008

I think by the time the next xbox comes out, xbl will be free.
Only because I hope technology advances enough to the point where it won't cost MS enough money to warrant the subscription.
Right now, it is out of the question.

They better treat their old xbox live gold members right though in the transition.......



And that's the only thing I need is *this*. I don't need this or this. Just this PS4... And this gaming PC. - The PS4 and the Gaming PC and that's all I need... And this Xbox 360. - The PS4, the Gaming PC, and the Xbox 360, and that's all I need... And these PS3's. - The PS4, and these PS3's, and the Gaming PC, and the Xbox 360... And this Nintendo DS. - The PS4, this Xbox 360, and the Gaming PC, and the PS3's, and that's all *I* need. And that's *all* I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one... I need this. - The Gaming PC and PS4, and Xbox 360, and thePS3's . Well what are you looking at? What do you think I'm some kind of a jerk or something! - And this. That's all I need.

Obligatory dick measuring Gaming Laptop Specs: Sager NP8270-GTX: 17.3" FULL HD (1920X1080) LED Matte LC, nVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, Intel Core i7-4700MQ, 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3, 750GB SATA II 3GB/s 7,200 RPM Hard Drive

endimion on 01 July 2008

so to go back on the question.. I don't know if it can stay positive right now.. but if they are turning profits on every unit sold right now... and when games produced or even deved by MS comes thay should still stay in the green.... now i have no idea of how much longer it would push the overall profitability of the department



brute on 01 July 2008

well they would have to ct some of its features and make it like the psn or somthing,them they would be able to still be profitable



tag:"reviews only matter for the real hardcore gamer"

Strategyking92 on 01 July 2008

I don't want any features cut, maybe they could get rid of yaris and the other shovelware arcade games. (keeping only the good ones)



And that's the only thing I need is *this*. I don't need this or this. Just this PS4... And this gaming PC. - The PS4 and the Gaming PC and that's all I need... And this Xbox 360. - The PS4, the Gaming PC, and the Xbox 360, and that's all I need... And these PS3's. - The PS4, and these PS3's, and the Gaming PC, and the Xbox 360... And this Nintendo DS. - The PS4, this Xbox 360, and the Gaming PC, and the PS3's, and that's all *I* need. And that's *all* I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one... I need this. - The Gaming PC and PS4, and Xbox 360, and thePS3's . Well what are you looking at? What do you think I'm some kind of a jerk or something! - And this. That's all I need.

Obligatory dick measuring Gaming Laptop Specs: Sager NP8270-GTX: 17.3" FULL HD (1920X1080) LED Matte LC, nVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M, Intel Core i7-4700MQ, 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3, 750GB SATA II 3GB/s 7,200 RPM Hard Drive