This is not Windows news, but since it will probably affect many of our readers who use Microsoft products, including myself, I figured it was worth reporting:
According to Major Nelson’s blog, Microsoft is increasing the price for the Xbox LIVE gold plan’s subscription service, starting November 1st. The changes in price will only affect those in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom or the United States.
The blog posts mentions that the price has been the same since 2002 and hints that the expanded services Microsoft is adding to Xbox LIVE is the reason for the price increase. Recent additions to the service include: avatars, facebook, twitter, last.fm, Zune video and Netflix. The service will also be upgraded soon to include: ESPN 3, Kinect and Zune music. As stated elsewhere, with Kinect coming soon and the rush of new users likely to sign up for the service, it seems that this is an ideal time for the price increase
Here is the pricing chart with the new gold plan costs coming soon:
To help current gold subscribers keep the cost down, Microsoft is providing a way to lock in their subscription for the next 12 months at the current price. If you wish to lock in the discount, visit here.
While this may seem like a great business move with the expected holiday rush for Kinect, as a user, I would definitely have preferred that the service either become free or that Microsoft decrease the cost for the gold plan. Shouldn’t this service come automatically with the price of the console? That’s my opinion, let me know what you other Xbox LIVE users think.
