Thurott: $299 version of Xbox v.Next will come with a $15/mo XBLG sub, not $10

Can't you just subscribe, then cancel the credit card you used to subscribe?

Yes and you'll face the same consequences of failing to pay on any other contract: a hit to your credit rating and your account sent to a collection agency.
 
Can't you just subscribe, then cancel the credit card you used to subscribe?

Sure you could.

Your live account will be freezed, and MS will go through the proper channels to get the money one way or another.

How does that work with phone companies in the US? Will probably work the same.
 
My issue is that I already have an Xbox Gold sub through April 2015 so it makes sense for me to buy the higher priced console. Otherwise, I would probably have sprung for the subsidized console because I would've bought the Live anyway and only spent $40 extra in the long run. Considering it's $200 less, up front, that is actually a great deal, depending on what you do with the extra $200.

"Already a Live subscriber? No problem, we gonna supasize yo subsadize!"

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Uh, wtf option are you wanting exactly? Your ONLY OPTION used to be paying full price. I'm not sure why Microsoft opening up new payment options is a bad thing. If you don't like the contract, pay full price like always.

I don't want to have to pay MS $15/mo like it's a damn bill. If I was getting one, it would be full price but depending on what they are asking and what it includes, that will be the true test.
 
I'm willing to bet all $299 boxes will be the "always online" systems, whereas the $499 ones will function like a regular console. That's probably where all this confusion of always online comes from.
 
I remember a few years back I wanted to get out of a contract with T-moblie. Didn't like the service, my plan or what I was getting for my money and opted out.

$300 "early termination fee" No ifs, ands, or buts. You don't pay they send you to collections.

I see tons of gamers ruining their credit score on the next xbox. Maybe it's just my pessimistic view but I feel like anything that can go wrong will go wrong. As I said, this is going to be a disaster.
 
What happens if you default?

Good question. Defaulting on subscriptions with cable companies here in the UK (Sky/Virgin Media) used to be really bad. Now they will cut you off and not let yet back on.

It is shocking how many people don't or can't afford to ensure they have enough in the bank to cover their Direct Debits....

It could potential be a right mess here in the UK if the subsidised model is the most attractive proposition.
 
Despite the higher price from the 2 year commitment, I expect the Next Xbox to sell out. The lower initial price is eye candy to most consumers.
 
What a strange thing to say now, what if they both turn out to be shit?

What a strange question to ask. In this day and age, you don't need to actually play games to judge their quality. Most gamers can be convinced a game is going to blow them away by a preview and a trailer, or in this case, just be a sequel.
 
You could say the same thing about anyone who has ever taken a loan for a car or house. They end up paying far more than the actual value of the item.

There is an economic case to provide a console with a lower initial cost to entice more people. It's smart.

Houses and cars cost more than people can usually pay in one lump sum- and it's not like no one's ever accused bank loans of being exploitive.

And I never said it wasn't "smart" if Microsoft to do this. It was also "smart" of game publishers to start nickel-and-diming consumers with DLC everywhere; that doesn't mean I have to be happy about the direction of the industry.
 
is it a 2 year contract? If so good god. Gaming pls stop. Nip in bud.

Gaming learned from mobile.

Basically, Americans are stupid when it comes to money.

The majority of consumers would rather pay MORE in the long run (and less up front) rather than pay LESS in the long run (and more up front).

TCO is not a thing for the mass consumer.

This also explains why the majority of consumers carry a balance on their credit card and pay interest.

NOW NOW NOW wins out over spending smartly.
 
I see tons of gamers ruining their credit score on the next xbox. Maybe it's just my pessimistic view but I feel like anything that can go wrong will go wrong. As I said, this is going to be a disaster.

Is the currently subsidized 360 a disaster?
 
I remember a few years back I wanted to get out of a contract with T-moblie. Didn't like the service, my plan or what I was getting for my money and opted out.

$300 "early termination fee" No ifs, ands, or buts. You don't pay they send you to collections.

I see tons of gamers ruining their credit score on the next xbox. Maybe it's just my pessimistic view but I feel like anything that can go wrong will go wrong. As I said, this is going to be a disaster.

Can't wait for the backlash from those who try to get out of the contract and have their cards/accounts charged these huge fees. Make no mistake, this will happen under such a model.
 
I remember a few years back I wanted to get out of a contract with T-moblie. Didn't like the service, my plan or what I was getting for my money and opted out.

$300 "early termination fee" No ifs, ands, or buts. You don't pay they send you to collections.

I see tons of gamers ruining their credit score on the next xbox. Maybe it's just my pessimistic view but I feel like anything that can go wrong will go wrong. As I said, this is going to be a disaster.


Undoubtedly plenty of people will either try and get clever and inadvertantly commit credit fraud, or they will screw up their credit. Having had a WoW subscription for many years and hell an XBL subscription since its inception, this just doesn't seem that worrying to me.
 
Not really.

Xbox 720 Subsidized: $299 + $15 * 24 = $659
Xbox 720 Unsubsidized: $499 + $60 * 2 = $620


It's a terrible deal.

Agreed. The only way I can see this making sense is if they offer some other kind of value-add services on top of your typical access to multiplayer and other apps.

The only world in which this makes sense is a world where Sony charges $599 for their system up front (Which I find very hard to believe given the pervious negative press at that level), or if Sony removes multiplayer, Netflix, and all the other servies it currently offers without charge and starts charging for them using PS+. That's the only way those prices sound competitive, so I'm inclined to believe this won't be the case.

However, I guess there is always a sizable portion of the market that will just accept it without really thinking about the money involved.
 
It's a bad option that exploits the stupider consumer's inability to do math. And if it's successful we can expect to see more of it throughout the industry.

You mean an extra $1.67 per month for 24 months is exploitation?

I really don't want to be defending Microsoft here but this is just ridiculous.
 
How do we know that Live isn't going to cost $15/mo. normally, for the new Xbox? They might change the pricing model for next gen.

Everyone is running around whining about the price, I personally think it's smart business, and I'll be honest, I'll consider this pricing model, depending on what they do with Live without the contract.

Because there is no way that MS would raise the price of the unsubsidized cost to $180 a year. That would be a total rip-off for those that don't do the sub version. Of course they might raise the price to like $70-80. Plus they might do away with the Live cards, meaning no more discounts.

Except you can get the 2x $60 Live you have calculated for 2x $40 if you a little bit attention. So it's an $80 gap. That's a bit much.

Where do you keep getting this $40 number? Please show me where I can get a year of Live for $40. No seriously, if I can get it for $40 that'd be great since my sub just ran out.
 
MS introduced the Premium and Gimped model back in the day. They're doing it again lol.

Well, one thing that im relieved about, theres no doubt its going to be a powerful machine at $500. As for me, money aint a thing :P

I expect PS4 to be $500... has anything been announced?
 
That's ridiculously expensive but will users pony up the cash? If Sony comes in at a price point of $450 or lower they'll be sittin' pretty.
 
$299 up-front, at $15/month for xbl, and a conservative 8 year life-cycle... somebody do the math here

It's $15 a month for two years. It's not paying just for Live, but also for the decreased up-front price. This rumor says nothing about the normal price of Live changing.
 
Do you understand what we're discussing?

Yes and it's stupid as hell. Contracts for owning a fucking console and a price increase, again, to Xbox LIVE. Quite clear MS is going for the smoke and mirrors approach trying to fool everyone into thinking they are getting a great deal when they're not. It will likely, sadly, do quite well due to many not being able to comprehend what the hell the deal is right away and will be blinded by a $299 price tag while ignoring the small text for the 2 year contract.
 
Sounds like a rip off. Two years of Gold from retail sales is approximately $60. They are asking you to pay $160 if you deduct the $200 savings from the console.

So... I could have no contractual obligation and save $100... hmm such a tough decision. I guess for people who live paycheck to paycheck, this makes sense, but really should you be buying the cutting edge console if you are in that position?

Sad thing is lots of people will probably fall for this just like most people fall for subsidized phones.
 
Imagine the chaos of a subscription based console that you pay 15 dollars a month for(sign a contract) and has launch hardware issues like rrod, ylod, unreadable discs and horribly slow servers etc. I hope they are making user experience 100x more reliable than past console launches.

Or else the shitstorm of the gaming century where all the internet shithawks go on the shitprowl.

The shit typhoon is coming.
 
I'm amazed at the amount of people in this thread that don't understand how subsidised subscriptions work.
 
I would like to think that people aren't stupid enough to pay 299.99 and 15/mo for 2 years. But I know better, if they have the games to back it up then it could work. I just hope they are smart enough to include a free game here and there like plus.
 
The Wii U might actually have hope now. If people see the colossal fuckup of the NextXbox they might get a PS4 and a WiiU instead of PS4 and NextXbox.
 
Yes and it's stupid as hell. Contracts for owning a fucking console and a price increase, again, to Xbox LIVE. Quite clear MS is going for the smoke and mirrors approach trying to fool everyone into thinking they are getting a great deal when they're not. It will likely, sadly, do quite well due to many not being able to comprehend what the hell the deal is right away and will be blinded by a $299 price tag while ignoring the small text for the 2 year contract.

Just like they don't understand why they're getting a cell phone at half the price with a two-year contract?

The Wii U might actually have hope now. If people see the colossal fuckup of the NextXbox they might get a PS4 and a WiiU instead of PS4 and NextXbox.

How does this make any fucking sense? The unchecked hatred in these threads is ridiculous and illogical.
 
I wonder how the wave of first-adopters will feel after taking this deal and MS announces a price cut within the first two years... while they are still in contract.

MS better have an amazing content strategy for this to work.
 
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