...Xbox 360 owners in Europe will pay 59.99 Euro (GBP 39.99) per year for a Gold Xbox Live membership, Microsoft has announced, and the company has also done away with the need to input credit card details to access the service - a move that's likely to meet with a positive response.
UK subscriptions to the actual online gaming part of Xbox 360's online service, Xbox Live Gold, will be available to buy from retailers for cash. As well as online multiplayer gaming, matchmaking and feedback tools, the Gold sub opens up "exclusive privileges and rewards on Xbox Live Marketplace" - possibly an allusion to Marketplace points, the anticipated currency for premium content...
...Those happy to pay by credit card will be able to do as they used to do and subscribe via the Xbox 360 dashboard for periods of one month (6.99 Euro, GBP 4.99), three months (19.99 Euro, GBP 14.99) or 12 months (59.99 Euro, GBP 39.99). Anybody with an existing Xbox Live subscription from the first-generation Xbox will be able to migrate it to the new system as a Gold membership when they first start it up for no extra cost.
As promised, no payment will be necessary to access Xbox Live Silver, whether you own the high-end or low-end Xbox 360 hardware package - players will just need a broadband connection and a memory unit or hard disk. With Silver, it's possible to create a gamertag and personalised profile, send and receive voice and text messages using the Xbox Live headset - sold separately - download trailers, demos, new levels and other extra game content from Xbox Live Marketplace, and purchase games through the retro/indie-oriented Xbox Live Arcade area...
