xbox live gold
Latest
Fable 3 and Xbox Live Gold sub discounted on Amazon
You know what you like? Saving money. You know what we like? Helping you save money. The stars have aligned today, as Amazon is offering one-year Xbox Live subscription cards for $40 (a $20 savings) -- but supplies are no doubt limited. Additionally, Fable 3 has been marked down to $28 for the day.
Buy.com sale on 1 year of Xbox Live Gold [update: sale ended]
Buy.com is offering a pretty substantial savings on Xbox Live Gold via its eBay outlet. The site currently has one-year subscription cards for $35 ($25 off the usual price) -- and supplies are no doubt limited. Update: The sale is over.
Avatar Kinect for Xbox 360 is official, smile like you mean it
Turns out the rumor was true, Avatar Kinect is coming to the Xbox 360 this spring (for Xbox Live Gold members, at least). Details are sparse -- a place where you can virtually hang out with your "friends" -- but Kinect is shown to now be able to detect facial gestures like eyebrows, smiles, and laughs. Impressive, but after all we've seen with the Kinect hacks, can't say we're too surprised the camera's capable of such detection. %Gallery-112846%
End-of-year deals and content for Xbox Live Marketplace
The end of the year is quickly drawing upon us. While many are scrambling to grab those last-minute gifts for friends, loved ones and that guy you got for the office Secret Santa for whom you have no idea what to get (protip: give him an Xbox Live points card and steer 'em here), those who may have procrastinated a bit less than the rest of us can treat themselves with some Xbox Live goodies. Major Nelson posted up the deals and content set to arrive during the final third of this month, which you can see in full past the break.
Walmart offers 12 months of Xbox Live and a (good) game for $81
Walmart has a pretty spectacular deal going on for Xbox owners. The chain is currently offering one year of Xbox Live Gold and a select game for $79. SlickDeals notes that shipping is only $1.97. Don't fret about that "select game" business in the previous sentence either, as the eligible games are actually pretty good, including Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and many, many others. Considering a 12 month Xbox Live sub usually runs for $60 on its own, you might as well toss in a $20 game (that also usually runs for $60), right?
Target discounting one-year Xbox Live cards with CoD: Black Ops purchase
Starting this Sunday (Nov. 7) and running through the following Saturday (Nov. 13), Call of Duty: Black Ops buyers at Target are being offered a little something extra with their game purchase: an Xbox Live one-year subscription card for half price. As sent over by some Target-employed tipsters, the forthcoming week's advertisement flyer reveals the Black Ops-branded Xbox Live cards to be just $30 when purchased alongside next week's big release. Just think of all the things you can do with that extra $30! You could get, like, a whole bunch of really delicious frozen yogurt! Or you could use it towards Microsoft Points -- sure to be useful when DLC for Black Ops inevitably arrives with a $15 price point per map pack. The choice is yours! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Deal: Renew Xbox Live now, get some MS Points
Twitter user Prov_Sez tipped us off to a Dashboard deal offering 24 months of Xbox Live Gold for $84, complete with a 1600 MS Point kickback. However, our own sleuthing around on yielded an additional deal: one year of Xbox Live Gold for $45, with an additional 800 MS Points as incentive -- not too shabby! Oh, and before you think you'll spend those Points during the Game Feast promotion, stop and check the fine print. It'll take six to eight weeks before you'll see 'em on your account.
Year of Xbox Live Gold and free Halo Avatar item for $30
You may have noticed the above advertisement on the Xbox 360 dashboard -- we've yet to encounter this ourselves, but we've been assured it's there. Engadget writer @rjcc first tipped us off on the deal, which adds a year to your Xbox Live Gold membership, along with the pictured Halo: Reach helmet above. Get 'em both for $29.99, because we all know Xbox Live won't be that cheap for long.
Pachter predicts $100 'Platinum' Xbox Live membership
The bump in cost for a Gold membership on Xbox Live is just the tip of the iceberg, according to game industry seer Michael Pachter. Predicting a $100 plan as the next evolutionary step in subscription options soon to be available to Xbox Live consumers, he told IndustryGamers reports that while the initial extra $10 "translates to around $100 to 150 million per year in additional revenue for Microsoft," the company will "reinvest at least this much in developing other new applications, and will roll out a premium service with $100 to 200 million worth of enhancements. If they can get 2 million users to switch from the $60 plan to the $100 plan, they'll make an extra $80 million a year, and can keep investing to try to grow that business." It makes sense: Xbox Live is easily one of the biggest draws of the console and consumers have already shown they're willing to pay a premium for it. But even if Microsoft were to offer a "Platinum" service, what could justify what is comparably such a heftier price tag? "For all I know, the Platinum plan might include virtual goods credits for various Microsoft games," Pachter posits. "If members could get specialized Halo armor or weapons worth the extra $40, they might be more willing to sign up, and it doesn't really cost Microsoft anything to offer things like that." You know what? We may know a few people willing to pay for something like that. [Thanks, Mark]
Discounted Xbox Live subscription cards available from Amazon, Newegg and others
Did the super-ultra recent Xbox Live Gold subscription price hike announcement fill you with an unbridled, quiet rage? A number of retailers are capitalizing on your frustration by cutting the price of the 12-month subscription card to $40 -- a full Andrew Jackson less than the price that will be adopted in November. Microsoft is offering a similar, apologetic renewal on Xbox.com -- however, that deal's only applicable for a single year. Some retailers, such as Newegg, will let you order as many of these discounted subscription cards as you want, which you could redeem to extend your Xbox Live Gold subscription until the end of recorded time. That's a bit of a commitment, but think of how thrifty you'll feel!
Xbox Live Gold price increasing November 1 in US, UK, Canada, and Mexico
Well, this is sad and unexpected: Microsoft's Major Nelson just announced that Xbox Live Gold will be getting more expensive in the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico starting November 1. A single month will go from $7.99 to $9.99, three months will go from $19.99 to $24.99, and the yearly sub will now be $59.99, up from $49.99. Yes, it's super lame, but to make up for it Microsoft's running a quickie "lock in" promo for a discounted $40 one-year Gold sub starting November 1 -- a nice deal if your subscription is set to expire around then, we suppose. We're definitely wondering why Microsoft is jacking Live prices right before launching Kinect and the gaming-focused Windows Phone 7, though -- we've heard theories ranging from an attempt to increase Entertainment and Devices revenue to a simple inflation adjustment. We'll poke around -- and we're guessing there's about to be a run on Gold upgrade cards. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Xbox Live subscription prices to rise; $60 for 1 year beginning in Nov. [update]
As if to balance out the news of Nintendo's DSi price drops, Microsoft has announced via Major Nelson that the cost of an Xbox Live Gold membership will increase starting on November 1 in the US, Canada, Mexico and the UK. In the US, a one-month Gold subscription will rise for $7.99 to $9.99; three months from $19.99 to $24.99; and a full year from $49.99 to $59.99. Check Major Nelson's post for price changes in other regions. If you want to extend your Xbox Live membership without paying the new higher costs, you have two choices: 1) you could renew your subscription for one year through Xbox.com for for $40; or 2) load up on prepaid subscription cards, like, now! Update: Microsoft has informed Joystiq that the $99 price will not change for the Xbox Live Family Plan, also launching this November. So that's suddenly a better deal.
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.
Sale: Grab a year of Xbox Live Gold for $35
Buy.com is currently offering 12-month Xbox Live Gold cards for only $35 -- a substantial savings over the usual $50. Well, technically, it's only $34.44, so the deal is even better. There's a limit of three per customer, which adds up to three years of Live for just over 100 bucks. Not bad. [Thanks, Richard!]
ESPN on-demand joins Xbox in 'exclusive partnership,' free for Gold members
In previous E3 conferences, Microsoft announced partnerships with Netflix, Last.fm, Facebook and Twitter as non-gaming enhancements to the Xbox Live "experience." This year, Xbox Live users can expect 3500 events live and on demand from ESPN in an "exclusive partnership." Content mentioned included NBA, MLB, college football, college basketball, soccer and Sports Center. However, there was no mention of NFL or NHL. With Kinect, connected viewers are able to vote on which teams fans think can win. There will be stats and live tickers, and you'll be able to switch between games nearly instantaneously. Impressively, this service will be free for Xbox Live Gold members, undoubtedly making it one most valuable additions to the Live service.
12 months of Xbox Live for $35 from Newegg
Who likes cheap Xbox Live Gold subscriptions? That's right, you do -- and Newegg has got you covered. Right now the tech seller has a full year of Xbox Live Gold up for only $34.99, a full $15 off the usual $50 price. That's almost three months of online gaming for free. You can't argue with that. Well, you could but you'd be a jerk, and there's no room for jerks on Xbox Live. Nope, none. [Thanks, Brian]
Snag two years of Xbox Live for $60
No doubt you stumbled into this post thanks to the alluring aroma of savings, so let's get right to it: Dell is currently offering one heckuva deal on 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription cards -- $30, plus $7 for shipping. "Hold on," you say, "the headline says two years for $60!" Bear with us, okay? See, a clever Woot.com forum goer has pointed out that if you purchase two 12-month subscriptions, your order will qualify for free shipping. So there you go: Two whole years of Xbox Live for $60. Well, plus tax, but come on, that's a good deal. [Thanks, Dave]
Modern Warfare 2 'Stimulus Package' early adopters rewarded with free week of XBL Gold
If you happened to buy the Modern Warfare 2 "Stimulus Package" map pack immediately upon launch, you got problems first, and maps later. To get over the complications caused by your attempted Mapathy treatment, Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb announced that day-one buyers of the map pack will receive a free week of Gold Xbox Live membership. "Check your Live messages," according to Major Nelson, for notice of the reward. Even if every single person who ever bought the Stimulus Package already has a Gold membership, now you have it for a week longer! And for nothing but a minor inconvenience.
PSA: Xbox Live Gold free from April 1 to 5
Stick rocking that Xbox Live Silver account but have an itch to play some online sessions of [insert flavor of the month online game here]? Just a friendly reminder that from April 1 (12PM ET) until April 5 (12PM ET) Xbox Live is free for everyone. That means you can finally participate in social media programs like Facebook and Twitter as well as video chat with all of your friends! (Because those are the real reasons Gold members pay for the service). You could participate in online multiplayer sessions and create Xbox Live Parties to save your ears from the gutters of Xbox Live, but then you won't be Tweeting! The free weekend also means everyone has access to Microsoft's Xbox Live Deal of the Week program -- not to be confused with the "Inventory Blowout" promotion ending April 7, which is already available to Silver members. As you can see, the possibilities are endless! As long as those possibilities specifically include social media, talking to people on camera and playing games. Any other ideas you have are just greedy.
Xbox Live March schedule: Free Xbox Live Gold, XBLA sale
Major Nelson has dropped a new Xbox Live Marketplace schedule for the remainder of March and beginning of April and, while we knew about most of the major releases already, there's still some surprises to be found. First, the next two weeks will see some nice Deal of the Week promotions, with Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram falling to 800 ($10) and Geometry Wars 2 dropping to a paltry 400 ($5). Beyond that, Xbox Live Silver members will also be able to enjoy free Xbox Live Gold -- including online multiplayer, Netflix, last.fm, Facebook and Twitter -- from noon ET on April 1 through noon ET on April 5. And, as if all that wasn't enough, Major announced that ten Xbox Live Arcade games will go on sale from April 1 through April 7. The full list of games hasn't been announced, though it will include Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, South Park and Defense Grid. Check out the full Xbox Live schedule after the break.
