[VOOK]

Microsoft is planning to launch a $99 Xbox console package with a monthly subscription as early as next week, according to our sources. The software giant will offer the 4GB console with a Kinect sensor at its range of Microsoft Stores in the US, subsidized with a monthly cost of $15. We're told that the two-year subscription will provide access to the Xbox Live Gold service and possibly some additional streaming content from cable providers or sports package providers. Customers who sign-up for the deal will also be covered under a two-year warranty. There will be an early termination fee for those wishing to break the contract ahead of its two-year duration, and we understand that Microsoft will position the package as a competitor to Apple TV, Roku, and PlayStation 3. For those buying the bundle now and getting the cheapest two-year Xbox Live Gold option, that's about $299.00 + $120 = $420 vs. $459 over a duration of two years. With E3 2012 on the horizon, and Microsoft working on a "Woodstock" music service — it's clear that the company wants to ensure as many people as possible have an Xbox in their living rooms.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/2/299...sidized-bundle

Wait what...

[Infamous Chris]

HOLY SHIT

E: thought it was permanent

[V_Ben]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/2/299...sidized-bundle

Microsoft is planning to launch a $99 Xbox console package with a monthly subscription as early as next week, according to our sources. The software giant will offer the 4GB console with a Kinect sensor at its range of Microsoft Stores in the US, subsidized with a monthly cost of $15. We're told that the two-year subscription will provide access to the Xbox Live Gold service and possibly some additional streaming content from cable providers or sports package providers. Customers who sign-up for the deal will also be covered under a two-year warranty. There will be an early termination fee for those wishing to break the contract ahead of its two-year duration, and we understand that Microsoft will position the package as a competitor to Apple TV, Roku, and PlayStation 3. For those buying the bundle now and getting the cheapest two-year Xbox Live Gold option, that's about $299.00 + $120 = $420 vs. $459 over a duration of two years. With E3 2012 on the horizon, and Microsoft working on a "Woodstock" music service — it's clear that the company wants to ensure as many people as possible have an Xbox in their living rooms.

Well then. That... could make things interesting for people wanting the console and services.

[Truth101]

Wait what...

.

[DieH@rd]

Not impressed. Im more interested in permanent pricedrops.

[sillymonkey321]

i hope this isn't one of their E3 surprises Xo

[matics]

How reliable are these guys? That's a ridiculous price.

[PsychoRaven]

Wow. That has to be the stupidest Idea that I've ever heard. So I'm sure plenty of idiots will fall for it and it will be a success.

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

Interesting. MS clearly wants to have their cake and eat it, and this might be the best way to do it. Are the services robust enough in the US to warrant this for people who won't primarily use the 360 as a console?

[PSFan]

Not to big of a deal since it's only being sold at MS stores.

[brandonh83]

I'd be more impressed if it were more than 4GB.

[Solstice]

Fuck anything with an early termination fee

[Khold]

Whoa

[HammerOfThor]

and possibly some additional streaming content from cable providers or sports package providers. Customers who sign-up for the deal will also be covered under a two-year warranty.

If this means it will come with HBO Go without the need to a cable sup I will totally buy one!

[AndrewDean84xX]

$460 for a 360, Kinnect and 2 years of Live. Not exactly a horrible deal for the casuals.

[V_Ben]

Wow. That has to be the stupidest Idea that I've ever heard. So I'm sure plenty of idiots will fall for it and it will be a success.

That's the point of it, yeah. People pay a low fee up front, and then keep paying. Very smart.

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Hmmm....the equivalent of phone contract subsidized style pricing might just work for people.

[Azih]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/2/299...sidized-bundle Wait what...

I know that Microsoft has gotten pretty damn aggressive with 'giving away' Kinect/Xboxes as a part of bundle deals in Canada anyway in partnership with Rogers Cable.

I wonder if that's true elsewhere too. War for the Living Room still raging on I guess though it's been overshadowed by the smartphone/tablet stuff lately.

[TheMan]

paving the way for a fully subscription based console next gen? hell, maybe even offer an onlive-type option for games?

[Dresden]

I look forward to the eventual evolution of XBL, where there is no longer a console, just a streaming service for Call of Duty 13.

[dreamer3kx]

Early termination fee, I dont want to see these words in gaming, get out.

[WickedCobra03]

Wow. That has to be the stupidest Idea that I've ever heard. So I'm sure plenty of idiots will fall for it and it will be a success.

Basically this. You are going end up paying like $360 when all is said and done after 2 years... :|

And I am sure a ton of people will fall for it like goons.

[Mrbob]

I've never seen a Microsoft Store locally in my life.

If this means it will come with HBO Go without the need to a cable sup I will totally buy one!

Lol, not happening. HBO is 15 bucks a month itself.

[Friedreich]

If this comes with HBO Go and various sports packages without the need for a cable sub, this might actually be a hit.

Unlikely MS can pull something like that off though.

[ascii42]

Fuck anything with an early termination fee

Well, I suppose they could repossess the console instead...

[Onion_Relish]

This has xzibit all over it.

Yo dawg, I heard you like subscribing, so we put a subscription on top of your xbox live subscription.

God bless Microsoft. They are the only company that makes ubisofts shenanigans look positively quaint.

[pargonta]

can i just buy the console at $99 usd without live gold?

therefore, i only spend $99 usd and get a 360, hope that is doable.

[Meisadragon]

There were rumours about this earlier as well afaik. Very interesting, though.

[Somnid]

$100 + another $360 in fees for a 4GB unit? Gross. Not only that but the end of a generation is the worst time to be locked into a contract. We'll see how the masses handle it but I don't like where this is going.

edit: Also the prime video content on 360 is Netflix and Hulu which have their own fees.

[Agent Unknown]

A cell phone style service contract for a video game console? Oh goody, where do I sign up?!

[panama chief]

monthly fee = chance to miss payment = bank fees + whatever extra MS will charge for missing a payment (since it is a contract). no fucking thanks.

[ipitydatfu]

haha! 15 times 24 = 360!

[UraMallas]

This changes everything.

If this comes with HBO Go and various sports packages without the need for a cable sub, this might actually be a hit. Unlikely MS can pull something like that off though.

If they gave me Netflix, Hulu, Zune and HBO Go for free I would do it in a heartbeat. It will never happen, though.

[Tenck]

can i just buy the console at $99 usd without live gold? therefore, i only spend $99 usd and get a 360, hope that is doable.

It's basically paying for it a month, not just live.

So $15 a month for 2 years to keep it.

[MightyHedgehog]

Really surprised it took this long for it happen on consoles. I expect next-gen to incorporate this type of model from the beginning, at least optionally.

[Leviathin25]

even if I didn't have one this wouldn't interest me. It's an interesting experiment and I want to see how it will work though. If this is the only way they offer systems in the future, bye bye gaming. (for me)

[PsychoRaven]

$100 + another $360 in fees for a 4GB unit? Gross. Not only that but they end of a generation is the worst time to be locked into a contract. We'll see how the masses handle it but I don't like where this is going.

Oh I can tell you where this is going. It's not going to be pretty. When it's successful you can bet your ass Microsoft will repeat this next gen. Then eventually we'll only be renting our consoles from MS for a small monthly fee on top of our Xbox Live Fees. That's where this is ultimately headed.

[Conor 419]

One of my E3 predictions has already come true, now I just wonder how they're going to justify such 'value' of XBL.

[SuperSonic1305]

Selling consoles as a service? loooooool

[Jiguryo]

That's actually a quite smart business model. Learning from cellphone carriers, of all companies!

[Zeer0id]

Well, if you actually want all those services, I guess it's not an awful deal? Still, you'd think anyone in that situation would already own a 360 by now. Ultimately this bundle will only sell to those who don't know any better.

[V_Ben]

Really surprised it took this long for it happen on consoles. I expect next-gen to incorporate this type of model from the beginning, at least optionally.

Aye, it seems like a forgone conclusion. Pay a smaller fee with a sub, or pay a larger fee upfront.

[RedNumberFive]

I can only assume that your credit card will be tied to the machine. Well played Microsoft.

[pargonta]

It's basically paying for it a month, not just live. So $15 a month for 2 years to keep it.

interesting! a different way to purchase for sure, i guess i'm just not a fan of monthly payments/contracts for something i want to own outright.

[Derrick01]

Oh great now we have contracts and monthly fees for consoles. Fuck that. Goddamn smartphone generation.

[Orca]

$100 + another $360 in fees for a 4GB unit? Gross. Not only that but the end of a generation is the worst time to be locked into a contract. We'll see how the masses handle it but I don't like where this is going. edit: Also the prime video content on 360 is Netflix and Hulu which have their own fees.

This isn't the 'end of the generation' for the masses of people who don't buy until it hits the sub-100 dollar price point.

[Neuromancer]

Don't like this model personally but who knows, could be huge.

[Biggzy]

Expect this for the next Xbox as well.

[LiK]

it doesn't come with a HDD. but it's still an amazing deal.

[AlanzTalon]

if this is a real thing...it is not for the neoGAF crowd. Xbox has already saturated the gamer market as far as it is going to go. it is aimed at the casual where $250 is prohibitive, and to get them into the Xbox Live ecosystem at a cheap price point and get them used to Xbox as a service.

from a POV as a service (Live) provider, the hardware is moot, you want them in your ecosystem. the Apple model. iPods as a trojan horse to your CC to sell content.

We are at the end of the 360's life, and anyone in now for cheap is someone who will be much much more likely to buy in to the next machine because it is a known quantity. It is all about getting as many people into the ecosystem as possible running up to the next Xbox, which will be a media machine more than a gaming machine.