350°

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.

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gaminrealm.com
3909d ago Replies(17)
dazzrazz3909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

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-863909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

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.

Magicite3909d ago

Every 2nd M$ OS is Beta :)

StoutBEER3909d ago

@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

redwin3909d ago

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.

StoutBEER3909d ago

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

PONTIAC08G8GT3909d ago

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

rbluetank3909d ago

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

theWB273909d ago

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.

ABeastNamedTariq3909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

: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

theWB273909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

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...

Lovable3909d ago

@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.

ABeastNamedTariq3909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

@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.....

nightfallfilms3909d ago

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

MrBeatdown3909d ago

@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.

FamilyGuy3909d ago

"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!

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3909d ago
dazzrazz3909d ago

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

deputyspade3909d ago

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.

FamilyGuy3909d ago

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.

MysticStrummer3909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

"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.

pyramidshead3909d ago

+bubbs for floyd reference haha

Bhuahahaha3909d ago

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)

deputyspade3909d ago

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.

ziggurcat3909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

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.

techuser3909d ago

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.

theWB273909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

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_laoch3909d ago (Edited 3909d ago )

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?

Magicite3909d ago

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

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3909d ago
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100°

No Man's Sky Is Easily One Of Gaming's Greatest Comeback Stories

Despite No Man Sky's rocky launch, Hello Games managed to turn it into one of the best space exploration RPGs out there.

-Foxtrot3h ago

I hate the whole concept of "comeback story" because at the end of the day it doesn't remove the core issue we had in the first place, that we were lied to, it was disappointing and it launched with bare content to what was promised for years.

Any bad game can have a comeback story if it's supported enough after launch but for me if you launch in a terrible state then you had your chance. I can applaud you for what you've done after but at the end of the day there's not much of a choice since most gamers would blank your next product if you ditched your last game so fast, it's not about repairing the game but spending your time repairing gamers trust before you launch your next product otherwise it would be dead on arrival.

With these stories and the games being updated, the only way is up most of the time so of course it's going to improve the game and feel better over all, getting better and better as time passes. No Mans Sky, Sea of Thieves, Fallout 76 etc but then you have games like Anthem, Suicide Squad, Redfall and The Avengers where the devs just clearly moved on, now if they have another product people won't be as exited for it, I mean hell Guardians of the Galaxy was a great game but because of the Avengers it didn't help its sales since people were obviously still sour at that point.

I still think despite the improvements to games like No Mans Sky and Cyberpunk along with being better now overall the games are still not up there to what was promised and hyped as for years.

If we keep celebrating these “comeback stories” then unfortunately it only strongly supports the concept that these studios / publishers can continue to push half arsed broken products out for the sake of quick sales instead of waiting until they are fully finished. We need to condemn this awful behaviour or sadly we lose all voice and power as consumers.

Sonic18811h ago(Edited 1h ago)

I feel the same way about Cyberpunk 2077. I'm glad you mentioned that. I'm not a fan of comeback stories as well. But No man sky developer was a small indie team compared to CDPR. It's worse when it's coming from a AAA developer

Nacho_Z1h ago

"Any bad game can have a comeback story if it's supported enough after launch"

You make it sound so simple and easy. It's not. After release Hello Games poured countless hours into getting their game closer to what they originally wanted, without charging a penny to anyone. That's not normal.

The reason NMS and HG are held in such high esteem and calling them liars is a weak stance is the amount of work they've put into it, for free. They're not chasing a quick buck, they've dedicated their lives over the last few years to giving their fans the game everyone wanted.

-Foxtrot56m ago(Edited 41m ago)

They are liars though...

We are not revising history here, I'm sorry but we're not

They built this game up for years and they launched it knowing full well it wasn't up to scratch to what they originally showed off or hyped it up to be.

"They're not chasing a quick buck, they've dedicated their lives over the last few years to giving their fans the game everyone wanted"

And like I said above most of that comes from the fact that if they had just moved on straight away nobody would have supported their next game. They've washed most of that sour taste away after supporting No Mans Sky so now they are doing a new game which more people feel like they can support and get excited for.

Anyway how can you say "You make it sound so simple and easy. It's not" and then make the point that "Hello Games poured countless hours into getting their game closer to what they originally wanted, without charging a penny to anyone"

This means that if a small team like this can turn a game around then big AAA games like Suicide Squad, Redfall, Anthem and the like should have been able to do it no problem, oh but that's right they didn't want to put the time or effort into it. They can do it but some people just decide not to.

thorstein2h ago

I really enjoyed it at launch and had every trophy by August 2016.

The experience I had is no longer in the game: It was just me and my ship. It was a survival game and the feeling of loneliness in the universe was pervasive. There was no way to ruin too far from your ship and, in an emergency, you grenaded a hole in the ground to survive.

I miss that aspect, but since then, I love what they've done.

Hugodastrevas52m ago

I'd say it's THE definitive comeback story

jwillj2k435m ago

Oh great another story about the cleanest shirt in a bin of dirty laundry.

90°

The Holy Gosh Darn: Ozan Drøsdal Talks Dialogue Skipping Mechanics And Why He Hates The Word Quirky

Ozan Drøsdal tells TheGamer about The Holy Gosh Darn, the final part of the Tuesday Trilogy.

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70°

Hollow Knight: Silksong's Follow-Up to Grubs is a Logical Progression

Hollow Knight: Silksong’s new collectible that succeeds the popular Grubs has the potential to deepen the mysteries of the new world.

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gamerant.com