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Xbox Removes Yearly XBL Gold Subscription | Is Free Multiplayer Coming?

Is Free Multiplayer Coming to Xbox?

  • Yes

    Votes: 101 28.9%
  • No Way

    Votes: 249 71.1%

  • Total voters
    350
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I'm not talking about raising fees per se, but just not allowing discounts via annual subs.

You don't think MS has substantial costs around creating and maintaining Xbox Live?

Not allowing discounts is the same as jacking up fees.

I am sure there are substantial costs. But steam has those costs, epic game store has those costs, stadia has those costs and much more. And while stadia may be crap now, it probably won't be crap forever. And I don't think Microsoft wants to be in a position 10 years from now where they are watching game streaming grow exponentially and google dominate the market because they were too concerned about their xbox live gold revenues back in the day.

A lot of gamers consider stadia a joke, but I don't think Microsoft does. And their big ace in the hole against Stadia is that you have the option of playing the games locally. But that becomes much less of an ace in the hole if customers gotta pay an extra $100-120 annually just to do so.
 
I think they are just going to bundle everything into GPU. I suspect they will get rid of GP only subs but will probably keep Gold only available but with 1- 3 month no discount options in order to entice players to pay a few dollars more to get GPU with GP & Xcloud included.
That would suck for Xbox gamers that don't want GP. Increasing the base price to play online when it shouldn't even have a price on it to begin with is fucked up.
 

12Dannu123

Member
Not allowing discounts is the same as jacking up fees.

I am sure there are substantial costs. But steam has those costs, epic game store has those costs, stadia has those costs and much more. And while stadia may be crap now, it probably won't be crap forever. And I don't think Microsoft wants to be in a position 10 years from now where they are watching game streaming grow exponentially and google dominate the market because they were too concerned about their xbox live gold revenues back in the day.

A lot of gamers consider stadia a joke, but I don't think Microsoft does. And their big ace in the hole against Stadia is that you have the option of playing the games locally. But that becomes much less of an ace in the hole if customers gotta pay an extra $100-120 annually just to do so.

This depends on whether people think the value of Game Pass justifies the rise in the cost of online multiplayer. For many people in the Xbox community, Game Pass does justify the rise in multiplayer price.
 
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Quasicat

Member
I only use Good as a way to pump up my 360 digital collection. I would be really sad if they got rid of Games with Gold as part of this. Yes, I can get 360 games on Ultimate, but those can go away if I stop subscribing.
 
This depends on whether people think the value of Game Pass justifies the rise in the cost of online multiplayer. For many people in the Xbox community, Game Pass does justify the rise in multiplayer price.

Why would people think gamepass justifies the rise in cost of online multiplayer? If you are already sold on gamepass, then the price doesn't change for you. Multiplayer access is still only $60 a year for gamepass subscribers because you can just upgrade to gamepass ultimate.

This is only a price increase for people that don't want gamepass. And the notion that Microsoft is gonna start making people pay more for multiplayer in order to force people into buying gamepass when they are in last place in the console business, and have streaming competitors like stadia offering their service for free seems very unlikely to me.
 

Naked Lunch

Member
It will be very interesting to see how this all adds up.
In my case, I have zero interest in gamepass but play a ton of online games on the XB1 and I even still play 360 games online.
 

Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
Why would people think gamepass justifies the rise in cost of online multiplayer? If you are already sold on gamepass, then the price doesn't change for you. Multiplayer access is still only $60 a year for gamepass subscribers because you can just upgrade to gamepass ultimate.

This is only a price increase for people that don't want gamepass. And the notion that Microsoft is gonna start making people pay more for multiplayer in order to force people into buying gamepass when they are in last place in the console business, and have streaming competitors like stadia offering their service for free seems very unlikely to me.

I concur. Trying to make GP look better by increasing Gold prices doesn't look great and really goes against their recent PR. But weirder things have happened.

A cheaper console with GP and no need for gold is a huge incentive for consumers.

But also in a world where a lot of popular video games are FTP, charging people for gold is just sleezy. It needs to change.
 

Vawn

Banned
I only use Good as a way to pump up my 360 digital collection. I would be really sad if they got rid of Games with Gold as part of this. Yes, I can get 360 games on Ultimate, but those can go away if I stop subscribing.

Games go off GamePass every month, even if you are subscribed too (they're replaced with other games).
 

Rikkori

Member
Damn, they're dropping the hammer before consoles are even out? That's unfortunate, but expected. Didn't even have time to lie to myself that I might buy it. The value proposition of the whole GP & $1 Ultimate conversion couldn't last for too long. They rope you in and then the prices increase and you're stuck paying $30 a month (or however much it will end up past the first year) or having no access.
 

spectyre

Member
I don't see why anyone that pays for PS+ wouldn't get a Xbox as their online console if they did this. $60x8 = $480. You essentially get the XSEX for free if you stop paying for online on PS5 and switch to XSEX for your online games.
If MS let me have an XSX for an annual payment of $60 over an 8 year period, I might actually get one.
 

yurinka

Member
I think they are already making an effort with Game Pass and xCloud, so they won't give away the online. I think this is a move to encourage people to buy Game Pass Ultimate instead of Gold alone. Or in case you only want Gold, then charge you more per year.
 
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Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
I think they are already making an effort with Game Pass and xCloud, so they won't give away the online. I think this is a move to encourage people to buy Game Pass Ultimate instead of Gold alone. Or in case you only want Gold, then charge you more per year.

I think it would be a hard sell to make people get xcloud and gold that aren't in the ecosystem.
 
I concur. Trying to make GP look better by increasing Gold prices doesn't look great and really goes against their recent PR. But weirder things have happened.

A cheaper console with GP and no need for gold is a huge incentive for consumers.

But also in a world where a lot of popular video games are FTP, charging people for gold is just sleezy. It needs to change.

I dunno. To jackup the price of an annual multiplayer subscription by 70% a week before a major event for your brand new console... would probably be the weirdest business decision I have ever heard of.

Even if that were their plan, you think you might want to... you know, pick a different date.

If this move is intentional and not just some sort of glitch with their website, I think it is almost certain Microsoft is planning to announce free multiplayer at the event.
 
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xStoyax

Banned
Big new development. Jeff Grubb from Venturabeat just said on a podcast he's confident & also heard that XBL Gold is going away and multiplayer will indeed be free
 
Big new development. Jeff Grubb from Venturabeat just said on a podcast he's confident & also heard that XBL Gold is going away and multiplayer will indeed be free

Makes sense with what Brad Sams and some other non-gaming Microsoft insider were saying with regards to the earnings call happening the day before the 23rd a week or so ago. Very interesting stuff to be sure
 
D

Deleted member 471617

Unconfirmed Member
I'll say that if not Thursday then in August when they finally reveal the Xbox Series S, the release date, prices and pre-orders, they will announce that once the console launches, that Xbox Live Gold will no longer exist and Online Multiplayer will be entirely free which if Halo Infinite Online MP is free to download, it makes perfect sense.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
So Gold is free ($60).

But if you want GP or GPU ($10-15/month I think), that's where they'll make their money?

Hard to believe. They'd be assuming that the supply/demand works so the regular Gold members dropping off would be countered by all the paying GP/GPU people at a higher price. And that doesn't even factor in all the Gold people dropping buying less digital microtrans because they don't do MP anymore so no need for online mtx.
 
What did they say?
Just some vague Gifs that could be interpreted any way you want, but will likely make sense on Thursday. See the Tweet above and immediately below this one:


Brad Sam's response with the gif of a baby throwing money out the window makes a bit more sense in particular if it relates to dropping Gold, and would also make sense why a non-gaming Microsoft insider would would respond to Brad's tweet about the July 23rd show
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I was going to renew gold but I will wait and see now.
I have a hard time believing it's true, but you never know. MS has been aggressive with SeX, xCloud and shit. They're basically going all out for a home run or a strike out in new gen.

Ya, best to sit back and see what unfolds before spending another $60.
 
Big new development. Jeff Grubb from Venturabeat just said on a podcast he's confident & also heard that XBL Gold is going away and multiplayer will indeed be free


That's insane if true. Jeff Grubb has a great track record.

I just can't imagine MS purposely losing all that revenue. This would easily be the most aggressive move they've ever done against Sony. This would have to be a move to steal marketshare from them.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
That's insane if true. Jeff Grubb has a great track record.

I just can't imagine MS purposely losing all that revenue. This would easily be the most aggressive move they've ever done against Sony. This would have to be a move to steal marketshare from them.
Assuming Gold is dropped and MS hopes as many people resub with GP or GPU, the starting revenue loss would be this without factoring in resubs at GP/GPU prices.

Isn't it something like 40 million Gold subs? Whatever it is, this is X

The price of a year of Gold is $60. MS's portion might be closer to $50 after you take into account people buying on deal and retailers getting their cut.

So 40 million x $50 = $2 billion in lost Gold subs

Also loss of microtrans as some people might say fuck it, I'm not doing GP, so no need for buying as much MTX as I don't need it for competitive MP

But then MS would recapture sales depending how many people resign under a higher priced GP/GPU plan (which I think is regularly priced at $120-180/year).

So making it simple ballpark math, for every new GP/GPU sign up at regular price, it can over 2-3 normal Gold gamers dropping off.
 

Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
That's insane if true. Jeff Grubb has a great track record.

I just can't imagine MS purposely losing all that revenue. This would easily be the most aggressive move they've ever done against Sony. This would have to be a move to steal marketshare from them.

Called it. Swishhhh.
 
That's insane if true. Jeff Grubb has a great track record.

I just can't imagine MS purposely losing all that revenue. This would easily be the most aggressive move they've ever done against Sony. This would have to be a move to steal marketshare from them.

It's a short term loss for something that will attract more customers and will undoubtedly bring more people into the eco-system. As they build up Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate with xCloud, once they get a certain number of subs that "loss" is something that disappears. Also, with things like micro transactions and many more consumers going digital (thus giving MS more money) a small subscription service loss for a year or so will be nothing as revenues from the store and Game Pass will increase
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
It's a short term loss for something that will attract more customers and will undoubtedly bring more people into the eco-system. As they build up Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate with xCloud, once they get a certain number of subs that "loss" is something that disappears. Also, with things like micro transactions and many more consumers going digital (thus giving MS more money) a small subscription service loss for a year or so will be nothing as revenues from the store and Game Pass will increase
Yup.

All comes down to critical mass.

Netflix makes money the past 5 years. They were like Amazon losing lots of money for probably 10 years (or barely squeaking by). They just reported a net profit of $720 million this quarter. And the profits seem to be escalating annually.

Looks like they shot past that subscriber threshold to be in the black 5 or so years ago.
 

Dee_Dee

Member
Woah that Jeff is saying it too

So that was Microsoft’s plan all along. Start the trend with Xbox, wait till Sony and Nintendo add it and then say just kidding it’s free now lol
 
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So if they do make online free than do they upgrade all the people with existing xbox live into gamepass if so than gamepass will gain 50 plus million subscribers overnight lol Microsoft might be onto something .
 
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Bogroll

Likes moldy games
It does piss me off if i want Gamepass and Gold i have to pay for Ultimate when i don't have a PC. And when i go to buy GP its says will convert remaining to Ultimate etc. Its a bit confusing so free MP, if you want GP you buy GP a PC or Xbox version, if you want streaming and PC and Xbox buy Ultimate.

Edit I'm even confused reading what I've written about. it is confusing, no wonder they're giving free MP (hopefully)
 
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So if they do make online free than do they upgrade all the people with existing xbox live into gamepass if so than gamepass will gain 50 plus million subscribers overnight lol Microsoft might be onto something .

They will convert xbox live gold user most likely. I don't think Microsoft breaks down their xbox live users between free (silver) and paid (gold) accounts. I would imagine the amount of gold subs is significantly lower.
 

truth411

Member
There not going to make online multiplayer free guys, theres literally zero financial incentive. The issue I see, is if online multiplayer isn't free then the price to pay online is now $100 per user I.D.?
 

Genx3

Member
Free Gold would mean they're about to do away with Game Pass discounts.
Most likely full Price for GP.
No problem since they're doing away with paid Gold anyway.
 

VAL0R

Banned
Interesting. Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Live Silver - Gone. Game Pass Ultimate - Gone. Only offer the services Xbox Live (free) and Xbox Game Pass ($15/mo). Get a huge uptick in new XBL users who will invest into the ecosystem, buy stuff from the store and be funneled right into Game Pass. MS is 1000% about Game Pass going forward. This is their play. They are going to fight and win or die on this hill. The billions spent on acquisitions - for Game Pass. If Xbox Live goes free - for Game Pass. XCloud - bundled with Game Pass.
 
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Genx3

Member
Free XBLG, Game Pass and all access make getting into the Xbox Eco system super affordable.

Pretty much no brainer at that point.
This would be a win win for consumers.
 
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Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
Interesting. Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Live Silver - Gone. Game Pass Ultimate - Gone. Only offer the services Xbox Live (free) and Xbox Game Pass ($15/mo). Get a huge uptick in new XBL users who will invest into the ecosystem, buy stuff from the store and be funneled right into Game Pass. MS is 1000% about Game Pass going forward. This is their play. They are going to fight and win or die on this hill. The billions spent on acquisitions - for Game Pass. If Xbox Live goes free - for Game Pass. Xcloud - bundled with Game Pass.

I don't think regular GP would go away. They still have people just on PC or just on console. I could see each being $10 and a combined service with both like it is now for $15.
 

//DEVIL//

Member
If xbox online multiplayer is free while PlayStation 5 isn’t . I will not even think of buying a PlayStation no matter what .
Most of the games I play with are multi platform anyway like cod etc . And I happen to love halo and forza from Microsoft too . So that plus the most powerful console and I am all in
 
Why isn't this thread moved into the off-topic moon landing conspiracy thread where it belongs?

Xbox discontinuing their annual Xbox Live membership product for the sinister reason of potentially offering free online multiplayer is a straight up conspiracy theory.

Game Pass is truth though. Man, so good.
 

KAL2006

Banned
Honestly I just can't see it happening.

Gold being free is just too much money left from the table for Microsoft. It wouldn't be worth it bo matter what the maths just wouldn't make up for how much money they would lose.

There are far too many people I know who don't give a shit about Gamepass. All they want to do is play COD or FIFA online with their friends.

I personally think it's a price hike by restricting people buying 3 months at a time or get Gamepass where Gold will be free. But for people who don't care for Gamepass it would be frustrating. For people who like Gamepass I guess they will save money not having to get Gold as well. Overall more people will get a price bump than more Gamepass owners who save money on Gold.
 
If gold goes away what will happen to the xbox one games with gold games? The 360 games we get to keep but the xbox one games were only available while paying for gold.
 

deriks

4-Time GIF/Meme God
I guess that there's no reason to continue charging

Live Gold you get like two games or something for the month and you keep those games while you have subscribe. You get GamePass with a whole catalog and you're fine. Way better choice
 

KAL2006

Banned
I guess that there's no reason to continue charging

Live Gold you get like two games or something for the month and you keep those games while you have subscribe. You get GamePass with a whole catalog and you're fine. Way better choice

Not everyone has time to play more than 3 games are year if not that.

There are a ton of people who only buy no more than 2 games a year. If they have to get Gamepass for online that's a bad deal for them. If online is free for them then that's a ton of Gold money Microsoft is letting go of.
 
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