Xbox Live drops Gold requirement for Netflix, HBO Go, more

ETX Daily Up

13 May 2014 at 2:32 pm

Microsoft's Xbox consoles will no longer require users to maintain membership of its Xbox Live Gold program in order to access streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go and a selection of dedicated sports channels.

Joining the above are the likes of ESPN, YouTube, Univision Deportes, GoPro and Red Bull TV, as well as the sports themed MLB.TV, the Xbox Ones' NFL app, NBA Game Time, NHL Game Center, and the gaming oriented Machinima, Twitch and Upload.

Previously, users would have had to pay a $60 annual Xbox Live Gold membership fee to access these entertainment apps as part of the Xbox Live Gold offering, on top of any service-specific subscriptions.

The update brings Microsoft's consoles in line with the PlayStation 3 and 4, Wii and Wii U, and a plethora of Macs, PCs, mobile devices, media players and smart TVs that allow access to third-party streaming service subscriptions without levying extra charges.

The move comes ahead of Microsoft's June 9 presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles and is linked with leadership changes following the departure of Don Mattrick for Zynga. Former Microsoft Studios VP Phil Spencer became his successor in March.

"Gaming will be our core as we take Xbox forward," Spencer had said in a public statement on March 31, and it's likely that access to online multiplayer will remain a key component of the Xbox Live Gold tier.

An earlier report, preceding Microsoft's own announcement, implied that other services might be introduced as Xbox Live Gold perks to maintain the subscription tier's appeal after streaming apps are swapped out.

"Sources could not confirm whether that includes existing services or if that only includes upcoming content like TV series from Xbox Entertainment Studios," reported Ars Technica, with Xbox's upcoming TV content including a partnership with Steven Spielberg.

Other Xbox Live Gold additions planned for early June include an Xbox One version of the Games with Gold scheme, which is a rotation of free downloadable games, and the discount program Deals with Gold. Both debuted on Xbox 360.

The announcements coincided with news that the Xbox One would be made available at $399 without its Kinect voice and motion sensor, accompanying the original $499 package, giving the budget bundle price parity with Sony's more popular PlayStation 4.

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