Xbox360 & Xbox One: 81 Features Locked Away Without Xbox Live Gold

After my original article regarding why Skype should be free on the Xbox One, I got to thinking about the other features. I wondered exactly how many features were locked behind Xbox Live Gold. After some research, I discovered that the Xbox360 & Xbox One collectively have 81 features that you will not be able to use without an Xbox Live Gold Subscription. Many of these features cost Microsoft NOTHING to operate, since many of them either run on the Xbox platform itself and/or the Xbox connects to a third party server and/or service.

[dazzrazz]

Basically without getting subscription all you can do on this device is watch BluRay movies,play single player games and maybe talk with someone in private chat. Everything else is hidden behind pay-wall even services like Netflix, Crackle (free on PC) that don't use Microsoft servers at all.. or Skype which is based on p2p technology that's why its free on PC. Why is that ? Well Microsoft actually makes a lot more money on those xbl subscriptions and software platform royalties (games in this case) than xbox hardware

[Agent-86]

Not only Skype, but just about everything on this list is free on a PC. Just another reason why I don't like the MS business model for console gaming and would never buy or support them. Only thing I buy from them is my OS and even then, I only get every other release since it seems like every other one is garbage: Win XP = good, Win Vista = crap, Win 7 = good, Win 8 = crap....you get my point.

I'm primarily a PC gamer, but do like having a console as a sidekick: to have console exclusives, plus have gaming in the livingroom when friends are over (we like sports and racing games on the TV). Last gen, I had a PS3 and will be getting a PS4 this gen. I don't need PS+ since I do my online gaming on my PC, but it's nice to be able to stream to my TV or watch Hulu+/Netflix on it as well and not have to pay a yearly fee to do so.

[Magicite]

Every 2nd M$ OS is Beta :)

[StoutBEER]

@Agent I guess I see you're point if you do you're online gaming elsewhere. And it would be nice if Netflix etc wasnt behind Gold. Fair point

[redwin]

It's like cable, if a free tv channel don't pay your cable company you can not watch it on cable. You can take it off the cable and watch the channel that way, but you can not watch the free channel through the pay service.

[StoutBEER]

I dont care. I have been paying for Gold since Halo 3 and will continue to do so. But it does suck for those that can't afford 60 dollars a year... Broke ass

[PONTIAC08G8GT]

Buy your subscription on eBay. I haven't paid more than $30 for my Live subscription in years.

[rbluetank]

Wow! a lot what you want to use is behind a pay wall.

[theWB27]

So what. To Sony nation the only thing that matters is games. Not TV crap. Those moving over to PS4 aren't doing so because of TV apps, it's to game. Even though Micro puts everything behind a paywall, Sony is essentially telling you everything is good to use, but multiplayer. You have to pay 40 bucks to use the multiplayer.

[ABeastNamedTariq]

:0 The spin. I'm so dizzy right now. Is this real life?

P.S. - $50 for PS+. Annnd you have to pay $60 for XBLG. And apparently 80 other things. 0_o

[theWB27]

Oh...Sony isn't charging 40 bucks JUST for multiplayer on the PS4? Everything is free and ok, but they choose the most crucial one to put behind a paywall.

COD is the biggest game this gen. Biggest reason why, multiplayer.
Battlefield= mulitplayer.
Killzone=multiplayer.
Driveclub is about being social= multiplayer.
Destiny-multiplayer
The Division-multiplayer
The Crew-multiplayer
Sports titles-mulitplaer
Elder Scrolls ONLINE
God of War A went multiplayer- think it won't continue?
Drake went multiplayer- think it won't continue?
Infamous Second Son basically confirmed to have multiplayer

Doesn't take much spin to know the industry is heavily, heavily multiplayer oriented. Since Sony nation doesn't care about TV, why else are you upgrading?

50 bucks for plus to rent games, good deal. PS4 doesn't support PS3 games, how long you figure before they start offering the same there?

They still haven't decided if they're going to make you pay extra to stream PS3 games with GAIKAI. Will you if they do?

With PS+ on PS4 Sony is offering 3 gigs of cloud space. While the other guys offer unlimited storage.

I mean seriously, the biggest thing people moan about when it comes to Microsoft is they're focused too much on things other than gaming. Then people point out things like this, where most of extra fluff behind the paywall isn't about gaming. It's entertainment apps. But it's still used as form of complaint against Xbox.

Then with next gen coming, they make you pay for THEE most popular aspect of gaming behind a paywall..and it's ok. SMH...

[Lovable]

@theWB27

Sorry dude you can't spin this one. FACT is FACT. No matter how much you emphasize the importance of multiplayer, it doesn't change the fact that other service that PEOPLE use are still lock in one platform while open in the other one.

[ABeastNamedTariq]

@WB

I didn't want to waste my last bubble replying to you, but holy crap that's..a load of crap. I'm sorry, it is.

1.) Infamous is NOT confirmed, even remotely, to have multiplayer, I don't know where you got that. Pulling stuff out of your rear there.

2.) That whole "unlimited storage" thing is pure PR talk. Maybe for game saves and things of that nature, Kbs and MBs of content that won't take up too much, sure, but GBs upon GBs? Nahhhh.

3.) You mention how it's $40 ($50, man, get it right) to "JUST" play MP when, later in your comment, mention the benefits of the access to full games thanks to PS+. Lmao.

4.) Who knows about Gaikai, we'll see. I'd rather not blindly speculate.

5.) Like you said, it isn't just MP. It's games, discounts, full game trials and more.

6.) I LOVE the fact that you completely disregard the point. MS put multiplayer and 80 OTHER THINGS, SERVICES, APPS, behind the paywall, some of which already require a subscription!

7.) To the last part of your comment: Yes they did. But the reward outweighs the cost of subscribing to PS+. And again, what, MS didn't? IS IT SOMEHOW OKAY THAT MS DOES IT TOO? IS IT NOT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF GAMING ON THEIR CONSOLE AS WELL? Good grief.

Okay, one more thing: F2P games will not be behind the PS+ paywall. There's some free multiplayer right there. :P

Ring around the rosy.....

[nightfallfilms]

I have never paid more than $40 for Xbox live. If you can't find it on sale then your not looking.

[MrBeatdown]

@theWB

You know, it's pretty funny... in your sad attempt at painting "Sony nation" as hypocrites, just like you failed to do yesterday...

http://n4g.com/news/1337404...

... you proved exactly how idiotic your argument is.

You're words...

"I mean seriously, the biggest thing people moan about when it comes to Microsoft is they're focused too much on things other than gaming."

"focused too much"

"TOO MUCH"

"TOO"

"MUCH"

In case you need a refresher on English language, "too much" means "in excess" or "beyond what is necessary".

Criticizing MS for focusing on non-gaming "too much" is not the same as criticizing them for paying any attention at all to non-gaming features. Yet you make it sound like it's hypocritical to want free access to non-gaming features.

You're not very good at that whole trolling thing. Next time don't make it so obvious how flawed your argument is by undermining it with your very own comment.

[FamilyGuy]

"And apparently 80 other things. 0_o"

I LMMFAO at that!

I really don't get why some in the Xbox camp are so delusional. Not everyone plays their games just for the multiplayer, there are people that won't buy PS+ and will still be able to enjoy their system. Without XBLG you basically have a PS3 from 2006 (before all the updates) that can't play games online. Extremely bare bones and an incomplete package.

Understand that some prefer single player games and some even despise playing online because of things like the other players being too good, the people cheating, the immaturity, etc. For these people that just want a gaming console that's has all these extra useful perks/apps it's nice to not have to pay extra just to use them.

Being able to do the extra stuff like talk to friends on your system and check out movie/tv/music/internet apps without having to pay extra to use them are STANDARD PRACTICES on any mobile device, pc, laptop, blu-ray player, SMART TV, tablet or non-MS gaming console that we are made to appreciate more simply because MS chooses to blockade them.

Please stop defending this terrible practice!

[dazzrazz]

I rather pay $50 for PS+ and have some "free" titles every month than completely nothing. Oh wait Microsoft was so generous for past couple of months they gave me Crackdown that came out 6 years ago and I could get it of eBay for 99 cents and 20msp for my birthday 0_o

[deputyspade]

Sony also announced at Gamescom that if you sign up for 1 year of PSN Plus, they will give you another 3 months free. So it's currently 15 months for $50.

[FamilyGuy]

Many of us already see the value of PS+ without it needing to have multiplayer behind its paywall. MS has all its entertainments apps behind the wall because there practically IS NO VALUE in XBLG if online gaming and those free-on-every-other-device apps weren't there.

It's like a magic trick and MS has some of these guys completely fooled.

[MysticStrummer]

"So what."

So... it's obviously better to have more features that aren't hidden behind a paywall...?

"Oh...Sony isn't charging 40 bucks JUST for multiplayer on the PS4?"

I'm not sure how anyone can look at everything you get with a PS+ subscription and make the claim that's it's all about the multiplayer, but spin on you crazy diamond.

[pyramidshead]

+bubbs for floyd reference haha

[Bhuahahaha]

man you're the one that makes me dizzy

yes you need a psn+ to use multiplayer on ps4(free with games that uses subscription model AKA like ffxiv)

its not $40 for multi and another $ for psn+

online play is free for ps3 games.
you can use one psn+ account for both ps3 and 4

psn+ gives you discount and free game(rentals as you say)

[deputyspade]

Your logic is piss poor,WB. MS has been charging for online since 2002. I notice you're ignoring the content of the article and trying to bring up Sony's charging for online instead of attempting defending Microsoft's poor practices. Please, by all means, attempt to defend Microsoft keeping all their "features" behind their xbl gold paywall.

[ziggurcat]

A least you can access that "TV crap" without having to pay money.

And you're clueless to think that a PS+ subscription is just to make people play for online. Also, if you happen to not give a **** about multiplayer, Sony isn't forcing you to pay extra money to access the things you're interested in using.

"... where most of extra fluff behind the paywall isn't about gaming. It's entertainment apps. But it's still used as form of complaint against Xbox"

Because you shouldn't have to pay extra for those things.

"50 bucks for plus to rent games, good deal."

And you're paying $60 for XBLG to "rent" features that should be free to access (some of which you pay a monthly fee for already). Try harder.

[techuser]

It's like you're talking to a brick wall, you made a good point in your second comment of your thread but these ps trolls just ignore it and say that it isn't relevant. These guys need to get take that tramp stamp of the sony logo off. This mob of losers will go away and troll something else. Guarantee that.

[theWB27]

I'm not going to reply to them, cause it's true. The industry is heavily multiplayer and that's the aspect Sony put behind the wall. Period. It's like someone giving you a free Bugatti, then tells you in order to go drive it you have to buy the keys for 3million bucks. What the hell is the point if the most important aspect is behind a paywall.

They can carry on, my point stands and it won't change.

@gaulic_laoch
Nice on the Lindsay bit. Really ; D..hilarious.

[gaelic_laoch]

Your argument is as steady as Lindsay Lohan doing a sobriety test! PS+ gives far more than Xbox Live's primary function which is based around restrictions and and illusion of a superior service.

...that bbc i player isnt on that list because the bbc is already paid for and is forbidden to be behind any additional paywall.... whats more telling is that ms wouldn't even let silver members to have it for free......because they couldn't charge for it. They use free stuff to fluff...WHY O WHY is this so?

[Magicite]

I bet You havent seen what value PSN+ actually has.

[Hufandpuf]

To be expected.

[M-M]

It's pitiful honestly. I can understand a lot of the gaming features being behind a paywall, but to have services that you're already paying for that are free on PC or other devices? Ridiculous.

[cootdog123]

Yet another reason to say the hell with the crapbox.

[Salooh]

Doooode , It's zombox ..

[Relientk77]

Why does Microsoft hate the consumers lol

[LOGICWINS]

They dont hate their consumers, they just enjoy taking advantage of them. Not sure how much longer this tactic will work since Sonys been doing a good job of pointing out the stark value differences between PS Plus and XBL Gold.

[matrixman92]

YOUTUBE???? you have got to be joking lol that is terrible....and pizza hut, just pick up the phone and call them haha

[M-M]

"Ay yo we should order some pizza tonight!"

"Yeah fo sho, but I have to run to the store to buy some Xbox Live real quick".

[Whore_Mouth]

72 of these are apps.

[ghoh1]

wtf?!! thats a looong list, i dont even have the time to read it all, screw M$

[Grown Folks Talk]

I love how people are concerned about what other people spend their money on. Would we complain if Live became free? Nope. A lot of people don't find it a problem. People pay for water every day. It's free all over.

[rezzah]

People do pay for access to clean water, they just don't pay again to drink the same water from a cup.

[Grown Folks Talk]

As with anything, some think it's too much, some just right, some a bargain. Nobody pays for Live just for those features & never play online. You pay for online mp, the rest is added. If you're going to pay for online mp anyways, why does it matter? If there was an extra fee on top just for the apps, i'd see it. As many here love to point out, we can access most of the stuff on numerous other devices.

[Intentions]

Oh ok, yeah don't care. Only cared enough to comment.

[gaelic_laoch]

So many Xboners still in denial I see! It is getting so predictable the same posters viewing the Xbox Live nostalgically through rosé tinted glasses, move with the times peeps!

[grassyknoll]

How on earth does Microsoft expect this to be a massive market device when you have to pay to use apps which are free on every other console, tablet, smartphone & PC. Next year when Kinect is on PC, it's gonna have the voice commands, but also better media functions & no paywall. It'll possible could be more graphical capable too. Xbox One is a device aimed at no one.

[CptFlashHeart]

LMFAO WTF is going on!

Who cares, you play games online - to do this you require a Gold account, the same you will require a + account on PS4 for the same thing. These features will then be inclusive of your subscription.. FFS, you lot need to get off your bandwagon. This site is becoming an absolute joke.

[Grown Folks Talk]

Exactly. You pay to play online, the rest falls in behind it. Who pays for Live to access YouTube & Netflix, but never plays online games?

[KonsoruMasuta]

I don't play that many MP player games.

I like SP games more.

Microsoft does this to force people who don't like MP to buy gold anyways. They want to squeeze every dollar they can out of your pockets.

[Grown Folks Talk]

How are they forcing anything in that case? If you aren't going to play online, don't pay. Watch Netflix on your computer or smart tv or phone or tablet or...

[Kayant]

Not everyone plays multiplayer or pays for their subscription yearly so locking features that should otherwise be free is not needed as these features are free on other platforms. These said features you *unlock* only applies to XBL because they are available to all on PS4 PSN+ or not.

[jetlian]

the sites been a joke since feb. Anyway MS gonna have more dedicated servers. That right there makes it worth it.

should see the article with people wanting to cancel cod orders on ps4.Some even think that gaikai is comparable lol.

hmmmm 400 million acquisition vs 9 billion upgrade I'll go with 9 billion.

I'm getting both anyway got 830 saved and by friday I should have the last 70

some of these apps arent even on psn. And if you play sp games you still dont need live.

[KonsoruMasuta]

If you play SP games you won't be able to do much with your device.

MS is doing this to force people who like SP games to buy gold.

[Grown Folks Talk]

You can still get persistent worlds & other benefits w/o Gold. Being offline is more of a drop than being Silver.

[vigilante_man]

For hard core gaming then it will not matter but when going for the casual market it stinks of pure greed.

Tell any casual person on the street that they can buy a XB1 but then have to pay a yearly subscription just to use those basic services they get for free on their smartphone, tablet, laptop/PC they would laugh at you. Especially considering the cost of the console in the first place.

And when they know the other console, PS4 offers these for free it does leave a bit of a sour taste.

I love single player way more than multi player. I only got PS+ a year ago because of the awesome instant game collection. But I am glad that when buying a PS4 customers still have the option to play single player games and do all those internet stuff for free. It is called choice!

[_FantasmA_]

You pay for it, therefore you think its better. I have some cold, filtered, and pure air I'd like to sell you xbots. Way better than that regular and free air.

[Kayant]

What's surprising (Well not completely but) is MS are putting Skype a service maintained and own by them since they recently brought it not too long ago behind a paywall. Yet on every other platform including their Windows Os and Windows Phone it's available for free. The are also shipping every Xb1 with Kinect a camera peripheral which many will think video chat will be a basic functionality yet it isn't until you pay for XBL. There is no valid justification in this.

[Younggunna585]

can someone tell me the total amount of features on the ps4 compared to the x1...ps+ there asking for 50$ for peer to peer .multiplier ..and what else...no dedicated servers ...and on x1 yes i pay for live..look at the long list of things i have access too...ps4 is jus slightly upgraded over the ps3...nothin special ..nothin that gonna wow anyone ...

[LeCreuset]

I'll see your features which are free elsewhere but hidden behind a pay-wall on Xbox and raise you an actual game from plus for every one of those features.

[SharnOfTheDEAD]

Running out of gold membership happens, sometimes it's 2 to 3 weeks as sometimes money needs to go else where (I don't always buy a year sub unless there's an offer) So when you end up without Gold your Xbox ultimately becomes little of use. PS4 on the other hand, you have access to everything even f2p online games! That's a huge bonus.

[Robtaylor860]

Guys it's only 5$ a month! What are u a bunch of broke school children??

[Max-Zorin]

Seeing how MS left a huge scar on people psyche, a lot of people are still switching over. But these comments are hilarious. Makes you wonder how many N4G members have gray hair from letting stupid comments stress them out.

[worldwidegaming]

I personally dislike how Sony jumped on the bandwagon. I own ps plus but there are a bunch of people i know who dont. The lesser of two evils yeah but its still evil.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Hmm.... OK, cheers for the list

[Smootherkuzz]

Facebook, Tweeter is free? is it really? don't you have to have intrenet service to use them.I have used my Xbox, Xbox 360 without any internet connection many times as well as many of my friends.Yes you do have to log in to the console for save(ed) games but that's it.I have over 100 game discs and none of them require a internet connection to play!Some indie games do require a internet connection if you choose to play them but you are not forced to play them. There are plenty games to play on the Xbox consoles without a internet connection.When I do use the Gold Connection it's mainly for demos, game add ons,Youtube I may check out movie trailers.My goal is to not get caught up spending a lot of cash period. So you have choice to spend or not to spend and that's what makes it great its the same as your tablet,phone etc.I think free play will come to a end because that the path the world is going like or not but you still have the choice noyt to play.lol

[yarbie1000]

If you are buying a Next Gen Console - - and not getting Xbox Live OR PS Plus - - You are an idiot. Expect to pay up if you want good features. I've got 4 12month Xbox Live Gold cards I bought last year for $30 - - They go on sale all the time. Tiger Direct

[Jagsrock]

It's really nothing new. Xbox live gold has always been necessary to get the most out of 360 not surprised to see that carry over to xbone.