350°

Bye-bye Xbox Live Gold

By Hadlee Simons

For the first time in almost four years, I've let my Xbox Live Gold membership lapse.

As a hardcore gamer, this premium service is essential for online multiplayer games and for using most applications on the console.

Now, I don't play online very often but I've had loads of fun with Call of Duty, Battlefield 3 and the Halo series. And with well over 40 million active Xbox Live users since its 2002 inception, it's clear that other people love online gaming on their Microsoft box too.

So why would I let my membership expire then? Simply put, it's due to Sony's PlayStation proposition.

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technology.iafrica.com
abzdine4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

PS+ ftw and by far..

pay 50$ to get so many free games or pay 50$ to have the right to play online a game i bought full price already i'm sorry but there no room for hesitation

amiga-man4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

It has always amazed me that M$ get away with charging for a service they don't even own, people pay their internet provider for internet access and online but on the xbox M$ block it and demand money to get it back, such an obvious scam and why so many people accept it I have no idea.

M$ dont own the internet so people shouldn't put up with them restricting access.

Oh PS+ really is amazing value all with free online as it should be

NewsForSnowflakes4011d ago

But with Xbox Live you get the pleasure of being called a 'f4g n0ob' by 12 year olds. Is that not worth $50?

Wikkid6664011d ago

@amiga-man

You obviously don't have a clue what Xbox Live is.

bohemian 234011d ago

Don't you lose your "free" games if you cancel your ps+? I still like that they offer it but its kind of an illusion, if you lose the games when you cancel your sub. I 100% agree that xbl is a rip off though. Reminds of paying for tabs every year on a car. Just another "fee" to trick people into paying.

abzdine4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

@bohemian 23: ...and don't you lose the right to "play" online if you cancel your xbox live? On PSN no matter what online gaming is for free.

EVILDEAD3604011d ago

I own both consoles. Why would I give up my Live just to rent some older games on my PS3? They literally have nothing to do with each other.

PSN+ is a cool deal for people who don't buy a lot of games for their PS3, but it has absolutely nothing to do with my giving up my Xbox Live account.

There honestly hasn't been a really game on PSN+ offered that I didn't own on my 360 or my PS3 when those games launched. Plus some of the better ones aren't offered anymore.

Like millions of core 360 gamers, I'll keep my Live for my 360, and I will still play PSN for free as I've always done. I'd rather get the game used or catch a god deal if it's something that I hadn't got around to it.

What I really think is cool about PSN+ is they offer Vita games, which are all fairly new. That's a really good deal for a handheld.

Evil

ShinMaster4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

Still spouting bullcrap as always.
PS Plus offers a lot fairly new games as well and some awesome discounts which add up to the thousands in a year. You could pretend to own every single good game, but that is still far from a good objective argument.

No matter how you spin it. You're still paying to play online. You can talk up the other feature all you want, but that is THE main reason people pay for XBL Gold, to play the other half of the game they already paid in full. Far from a better deal than PS Plus. Not to mention it's optional.

SilentNegotiator4011d ago

I cancelled ~3 years ago. No regrets. No reason to spend the money when it could go towards a game or tuition. I don't care if you're rich or poor, get it on sale, etc...it's a waste of money.

MysticStrummer4010d ago

One lets you play full games for your subscription fee, and the other lets you rent the online part of a game you already bought. No contest there.

wiz71914010d ago

I don't care about paying $60 a year for more reliable and better experience.. I pay for cable, pay my cell phone bill, and my internet bill when there are free options out there. You get what you pay for just because its free doesn't make it a better option. Xbox Live is the better option then PSN. With PS+ you get discounts and free stuff dont be worth it half the time then once my membership expires I lose all my free games and discounts.

EVILDEAD3604010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

@ Spinmaster

'Still spouting bullcrap as always. PS Plus offers a lot fairly new games as well and some awesome discounts which add up to the thousands in a year.'

GTFOH. Take off the Fan helmet and goggles and read again.

PSN+ is a GOOD DEAL. Period. We all know what it does and is.

But, again I own both consoles and absolutely nothing PSN+ does comes close to making me want to drop Live.

Why? Because it has absolutely nothing to do with my 360. I own well over a 100 games for my 360 alone. I'm on Live daily, for everything from gaming, movies, and music.

I'm not the fan blogger in the article. I'm not giving up gold because if I pay 50 dollars I can get the choice between Catherine (which I own on the 360) and Hitman.

That is his opinion as to why he gave up Live, not mine.

I don't own every game in the world, but I support and buy the biggest exclusive that I choose to buy on my PS3.

I'm like any PS3 owner whose looked into PSN+ to see what it offered, and so far there is nothing personally for me that made me want to drop the cash yet. The best games I already own, most year and a half to two years ago.

I'd rather pick up my preorder of God of War: Ascension and play multi for free than purchase PSN+ to choose between games I didn't necessarily want.

But that's ME personally and I'm not the only one of the 70+ million PS3 owners that didn't find the need to purchase PSN+ either.

Again, it doesn't mean it's not an excellent deal for gamers.

So please if you want to claim that people really are going to spend 'thousands of dollars' just to save 'thousands of dollars' in discounts in a year because of their PSN+ subscription then keeping 'spouting the crap' you claim others do.

Evil

ShinMaster4010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

Stop calling it PSN+ when it's PS Plus.

Games you don't want? And how exactly would you know that when Plus is updated all the time? It's not just free games, but also discounts and bundles that would cost more in stores. And even if you did have every game offered, there is still free and discounted add-ons and other content that could add to your current game library.

But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. If you really are paying for all those games and add-ons yourself, then I guess you don't need Plus.

EVILDEAD3604010d ago (Edited 4010d ago )

'Games you don't want? And how exactly would you know that when Plus is updated all the time? It's not just free games, but also discounts and bundles that would cost more in stores. And even if you did have every game offered, there is still free and discounted add-ons and other content that could add to your current game library.'

Once again I don't own every game. But even on the annual list in that N4G article that just went up, I own at least 17 of the best games and the remaining couple I didn't own that I would play just aren't enough for me to want to purchase the service.

With that said though, I live in the US and EU definitely gets the best of PS+ games list by far.

They do update it and if you go to gaming forums or see articles where people list the updates you can easily see what's offered and what's been removed.

You keep adding discounts and bundles like you have never been on the store. There have always been bundles and discounts from the store. But, yeah it's easy to see the big plus sign that shows the additional PS Plus discounts.

But, getting some discounts wouldn't be enough of a Reason to get PS+ for me at the moment.

Again, I'm not knocking the PS+ one bit, it's a great service for PS3 and Vita gamers period and a no-brainer for newbies.

Evil

Sitdown4010d ago

Who pays $50 for live? I have never gone above $35. Now with that said, I do purchase multi- plat games on the ps3 because of free online play, and the security of blurays durability.

loulou4010d ago

lol it's laughable that this sort of stuff always ends up at the top of the page.

How is this news? simply put it's not. just a hit leech for some fanboys blog-site.

just another day on blogs4fanboys

dantesparda4010d ago

Isnt it funny how Plus is not worth it to Evildead, cuz he doesnt care for the games it offers but yet he gladly pays to play online on the 360, with should be free. Gotta love fanboys and their stupidity

bohemian 234009d ago

@abdzine You didn't address the point I made, you side stepped. A common move among politicians. How do I get that many disagrees for stating a 100% true fact? Fanboys are a sad bunch, no matter what they support. If you get to keep playing those games after you cancel ps+ than I am sorry and I was incorrect. I wasn't saying its a bad thing, just stating that you don't get "free" games.

+ Show (14) more repliesLast reply 4009d ago
Yi-Long4011d ago

...mine expired last month. It's just not worth it anymore for me, compared to the much better deal psn+ offers.

chrismichaels044011d ago

I agree. I let my XBL subscription go after Sony released PSplus and i haven't looked back since. No regrets. I can no longer justify paying for features and services that I can get for free everywhere else. It's just not worth it in my opinion.

TheTwelve4011d ago

As long as people waste money on Xbox Live, our economy isn't that bad.

Ragthorn4011d ago

I was on Xbox Live for 5 years, and I regret paying for it except for the fun I had with my friends who "swindled" me to keep on using the Live. Until I came to common sense and went back to Playstation, since PS1, Sony has never let me down, so I used PS Plus, and every penny was worth for what I got back.

Sitdown4010d ago

Sony has never let you down? Wow, at times even Sony has let themselves down.... can you explain your secret.

MYSTERIO3604010d ago

Sooner or later gamer will have to wise up and choose between paying for a rental app service or a rental games service personally i prefer the latter.

DA_SHREDDER4010d ago

anyone that pays internet plus another fee on top of that just to play games that everyone else plays for free needs to get their head out of their you know what?

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4009d ago
Yomaster4011d ago

Even as an Xbox Live subscriber with a 10-year tenure, I'm gonna have to agree with this one.

Xbox Live is arguably the most populated and stable online gaming service, but PlayStation Plus' extras and benefits are pretty damn awesome. Xbox Live is getting put to shame with those features.

Microsoft definitely needs an overhaul of the Xbox Live subscription. Access to multiplayer gaming, apps, and demos just doesn't suffice for $60 a year.

jimbobwahey4011d ago

I think the worst part of the Xbox Live subscription fee is that the only feature it offers over the PSN is cross-game chat. The problem however, is that the PSN on Vita offers this feature for free as part of its online infrastructure, with the only reason that the PS3 lacks it being that they simply don't have enough memory available in the OS to add it.

Once the PS4 rolls around however, they will be able to integrate cross-game voice chat and party system that the Vita and Xbox 360 have, presumably for free. Once this happens, there will truly be nothing that Xbox Live Gold does that the PSN does not for free, so what can Microsoft do to justify the price when Sony rolls out the exact same service for free?

Will Microsoft announce new features/incentives for Xbox Live Gold on the next Xbox to justify the price?

Will Sony then integrate these features into the PSN during the months leading up to the launch of the PS4?

Microsoft is in a very difficult position in regards to maintaining their subscriber base going into the next console generation, and I'm fascinated to see how they will attempt to keep customers.

Yomaster4011d ago

Good points! I agree. Hopefully some stiff competition from Sony sparks Microsoft into improving their Xbox Live service features.

I'll be happy if both companies competitively develop badass online gaming services. That way, we all win!

dale_denton4011d ago

Great points here. i'm sure Microsoft will probably use new CoD DLC content on their next gen software to lure back these kids with xbox live subscribers like they have been doing.. SMH

sl0w-m04011d ago

I'm going to let mine expire soon too. The most instantaneous buyers remorse is when you renew gold and then you realize you don't have time to go online anymore. It's a lose-lose for people who enjoy their games with friends every once in a while, simply not worth it at face value

Lazarus694011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

I have to agree i renewed mine in February and have yet to play online although that'll change when GRID2 comes out.So atleast i'll get some use out of it but it's not really worth it for one game

angelsx4011d ago

never again pay for live.that's it

T24011d ago

My problem is I wanted to remove my credit card and it wouldnt let me sign in without cc on file even tho im prepayed until November !! Anyone else know how to fix this ?

T24011d ago

Ok for the people who disagreed to the FACT which I just posted please explain how to remove my cc from xbl

Ninja_G_Aidan4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

Go to bank and cancel, ring up Microsoft and explain the situation, if you can't remove card, add another card which you don't use and then hopefully you can delete your proper card details off system. Or just click "Off" on auto-renew, but you can't login soo I guess try ringing.
Sorry about that mate just a few guesses, hope one of them helps.

wiz71914010d ago

Just go to their website

JBallerX4010d ago

I had to call them directly to do this. My account was hacked and my cc used on my account. Everything was refunded to me, and Microsoft gave me a bunch of free Microsoft points, but I told them I wanted my cc off of the account. I will NEVER have my cc on a console again. Just in case...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4010d ago
AngelicIceDiamond4011d ago (Edited 4011d ago )

Lol why do you think MS colors are "green".

EDIT: Nobody else will defend MS on this site. I don't need to defend Sony. I have 100's already doing that for me.

So I defend them. False accusations, misconceptions "Why MS will fail" articles will continue to plague MS on the daily basis.

people don't like it that I defend MS and I get tons of disagrees and I'm constantly out numbered but, whatever.

I just thought it was funny. A long time Xbox Live user makes a switch to PSN. Cool, it does hurt me anyone else. It's his life.

Lol but think about it, MS colors are white and green. White for blank check and green after the tran$action.

Donnieboi4011d ago

Man, u used to defend M$ like it was your first born baby. Now even YOUR cracking jokes at them? This can't be good for MS.

Hopefully the 720 isn't as bad as the rumors say, because if it is, then there's no way in hell i'm giving MS another penny. PS4 is already a given for me anyway.

Show all comments (95)
50°

Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX

This could be fun as they make great tables. Go big or go extinct. Prime your senses for a neural handshake and step into the cockpit of a Jaeger. It is on you to cancel the apocalypse when Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX on May 16.

50°

Mugen Souls Retro Review – Sexy Demon Space Adventure

Gary Green said: We have a juxtaposition of 2D and 3D visuals, flashy turn-based combat, quirky anime characters with cheeky dialogue with plenty of partial nudity; Yes, this is a Compile Heart JRPG. Whilst the engine is borrowed from Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, Mugen Souls is more of a Disgaea spin-off. It’s not a strategy RPG as such, it merely sits within Disgaea’s ever-expanding universe (Multiverse? Netherverse? Your guess is as good as mine). You won’t find cameos though, since Mugen Souls is a franchise which aims to stand on its own two feet.

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pslegends.com
130°

Looking Back At 2008, An Unbelievably Incredible Year Of Video Game Releases

Huzaifa from eXputer: "2008 was home to the likes of Call of Duty: World at War, Dead Space, GTA 4, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, and many other hits, which is outright remarkable."

ChasterMies23h ago

Some of these low paid video game “news” writers weren’t born before 2007.

just_looken19h ago

Here here

Those that were around before 2000's i am sure are like me that think we entered a world of non readers or those that follow without question.

I can not wait to see fallout 3 a goty game even though it was about water with non content until you add the dlc/updates then you got the performance/crashing

CrimsonWing691d 10h ago

I don’t think anything can compare to 2023

lucasnooker1d 10h ago

1998 - the best year in gaming! Metal gear solid, crash bandicoot 3, medievil, half life, ocarina of time, thief, tenchu, resident evil 2, Spyro, tomb raider 3, oddworld abes exodus, banjo kazooie.

It was a different breed of a gaming era. You’ll never understand what it was like back then. The aura of gaming, it was different!

KyRo1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

I second this. Gaming was a lot more varied and fun than it is today. I'm 35 so getting on compared to some here but I got to see all the changes from NES up to now but I've never felt so disappointed in any generation than I have this current gen. I was expecting more from this generation rather than prettier versions of games that came before it. Game mechanics have become so refined that alot of games feel the same and has done for a while now.

Maybe it's time to have a break for a while. I love gaming but I don't feel I get much fun in the traditional sense out of it anymore.

CrimsonWing691d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Abe’s Exodus, and Ocarina of Time are the only things from that list that I liked.

Here’s the 2023 game releases that I personally liked… and big releases that I didn’t care for:

- Dead Space Remake
- Wo Long Dynatsy
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Diablo 4
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Hogwarts Legcay
- Street Fighter 6
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Like a Dragon: Ishin
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters
- Final Fanatsy XVI (actually ended up not liking this, but it was still a big deal release)
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
- Lies of P
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Starfield (Ended up hating this one, but big release)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (I’m an old-school Zelda fan, but didn’t really enjoy this game)
- Alan Wake 2

I mean, honestly I’ve never seen a year of major IP releases like that, ever.

Profchaos1d 7h ago (Edited 1d 6h ago )

Isn't it just a generational thing realistically.

I've been gaming since way back and I some of my favourite games go as far back as the late 80s for me each generation has a year or two of game changing releases one after another before an inevitable dry spell.

I kind of agree gaming had a different feel games hit different because we didn't have the internet nothing got spoiled and you really had to put in the effort to beat a puzzle which could set entire groups of people looking for a solution. But most importantly games were experimental and not as cookie cutter as today even basics like controls were not universal today r2 is shoot l2 is ads garunteed you can't deviate from that in a shooter back then it could of been square, R1 or R1 and circle nothing was standard.

But as time moves on a new generation picks up their controller they are going to be interested in different things that PS1 demo disc with the t Rex blew our primitive 16 bit brains back on launch but to kids today it's laughable.
The new gen of kids coming into to hobby seem to value different things to us there seems to be a huge focus on online play, streamers, gaming personalities, and social experiences, convience of digital downloads. To me I value none of that but that's ok like my parents not liking the band's I would listen to its just the natural cycle.

Gameseeker_Frampt22h ago

Just about every year in the 7th generation was great and something we most likely won't experience again.

2009 for example had Assassin's Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Killzone 2, Borderlands, Bayonetta, and Demon's Souls to name a few.

just_looken18h ago

It still amazes me we got over 7 rockstar games ps2/ps3 but 3 for the ps3/ps4/ps5

Dragon age 1-3 and mass effect 1-3 in 7ish years what a generation.