Hulu Plus on Xbox will be a 'custom experience', restricted to Xbox Live Gold members
Following Hulu's announcement of its new pay service, which will support devices like the PS3, Xbox 360, and iPhone, Microsoft filled us in on a bit of info about the Xbox version of Hulu Plus. Most importantly, Microsoft is continuing its ongoing quest to make Xbox Live Silver members feel deep shame, by making the Hulu Plus service on Xbox available only to those with an Xbox Live Gold account.
For the extra cash, though, Microsoft promises that this won't be a straight port. Instead, "Hulu Plus on Xbox 360 will take advantage of the social connectivity possible with our 25 million member Xbox Live community as well as the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360." So we'll break it down for you: While PS3 owners can enjoy Hulu Plus as early as next month, Xbox owners will have to wait until "early 2011" to get "controller-free navigation" with Kinect and Xbox Live Party support, so your Xbox Live friends can refuse your invitations to watch Quantum Leap together.
Full statement from Microsoft after the break.
The entertainment options on Xbox 360 continue to grow. Today, Hulu announced that its new subscription service, Hulu Plus, will be available on Xbox 360.
We're incredibly excited to bring Hulu Plus and its amazing library of entertainment to Xbox LIVE. Hulu Plus joins our ever-expanding entertainment offerings on Xbox 360, which currently includes Netflix, Last.fm and Zune Video. Starting this November, Xbox 360 will also be the only console to deliver 3500 live sporting events from ESPN3.com.
Like ESPN, Hulu Plus on Xbox 360 will take advantage of the social connectivity possible with our 25 million member Xbox LIVE community as well as the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360. We are committed to delivering signature features to the Hulu Plus experience on Xbox 360, like controller-free navigation with Kinect and Xbox LIVE Parties so you can watch with friends no matter where they are. These are custom entertainment experiences for Xbox 360 that you can't find anywhere else. More details will be announced at a later time.
