180°

Microsoft's Xbox Live TV Service Seems Pointless

Maybe we're missing something here, but it seems like the forthcoming live TV service that Microsoft announced on Monday at E3 is basically a way to get TV on your TV.

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businessinsider.com
Minartis4723d ago

No, it's a way of getting TV through your console so you don't have to subscribe to a cable / satellite company.

You can get it all, games, music, movies, sports and now TV shows in one place for one subscription. ( And it's all kinect compatible - all voice controlled - no tv remote needed.)

Makes sense to me.

Active Reload4723d ago

Pointless? How many people pay for Live? Yeah, this article is pointless. If it wasnt for MS, these types of services wouldn't be on consoles. Their pioneering efforts is the reason the service continues to be a step ahead of the competition...fact.

Joule4723d ago

agree with the headline

SlyFoxC4723d ago

uh...you still have to subscribe to the cable or satellite company...

xVeZx4723d ago

theres no need to argue, fanboys just dont understand

Js2Kings4723d ago

Why is this man or woman getting disagrees. This is straight from the interview:
"Q: So you'll have to be a Comcast subscriber, similar to the way you need a subscription to get the ESPN content on the Xbox now?
A: Yes."
With Zune you need a zune pass (or not actually that's optional but you have to pay for songs after subscribing to XBLive), ESPN need an ESPN subscription (source from the interview above, Netflix/Hulu Plus also need their own subscription (or like zune you can but them from the marketplace but it's not free movies for the XB Live gold subscription).

Godmars2904723d ago (Edited 4723d ago )

Know this wont register because its coming from me, but this is just a talking point. It gives MS something to say about the Xbox 360 to the general consumer. Any real benefit it offers is minor and will likely come added requirement. Like having to subscribe to a certain cable or satellite provider.

This is really no different than what they did with Netflix. MS got an exclusive deal for a while, was able to advertise this as exclusive to their console, but in the end lost what momentum and general advantage this gave once Netflix become available on the PS3 and Wii.

@Minartis:
Read the interview: yu have to get the service *through* a cable provider. Likely one given to a specific region, meaning that this service proabbly wont be available in multiple regions at once.

One thing I wonder for what its worth, will this open an opportunity for Sony and the PlayTV add-on for the PS3. Get competing cable services to sign on with them.

And if you want to dump your cable service you could probably do it now. Between Netflix and Hulu Plus, all the other streaming services on PSN and XBL, you can pretty much drop all of the pay channels like Showtime and HBO.

Active Reload4723d ago

"Know this wont register because its coming from me, but this is just a talking point. It gives MS
something to say about the Xbox 360 to the general consumer. Any real benefit it offers is minor and
will likely come added requirement. Like having to subscribe to a certain cable or satellite provider."

I dont know if you live in the US or not but the cable provider 9 times out 10 is the internet provider. Meaning 9 times out of 10, people already have whatever is needed to actually make use of the service Live is offering. I have Comcast cable internet...just the internet. I dont need a cable package from them because of Hulu, Netflix and whatever else MS brings to LiVe. I get ESPN by default through LIVE because i have Comcast internet...without the cable package/bill.

LeoDDestroyer4723d ago

Would you really want to keep your xbox on for that long. You watch tv then play the game all day so what happens when you want to give your system a break. Also it unsure of who will actually partner with ms in this venture or what additional pressures may arrive with things like smart tv rolling out.

gamingdroid4723d ago

If you actually read the interview and as pointed out by Active Reload, you only need internet service provided by one of the ESPN approved ISP. That is how ESPN works on Xbox 360.

You don't need to pay anyone to get ESPN on your Xbox.

The section of interest:

"Q: So you'll have to be a Comcast subscriber, similar to the way you need a subscription to get the ESPN content on the Xbox now?

A: Yes."

Godmars2904723d ago (Edited 4723d ago )

"Q: Will live TV be universal, or will it be regional TV services provided by whoever your cable provider is?

A: In the U.S., it will be bifurcated by region, by market. You'll be a Comcast guy [in Seattle], for example."

And another part:

"Plus, Microsoft hasn't announced any partners yet, so it's not even clear whether Comcast (or Time Warner, or whoever your cable provider is) will be on the list."

To sum up the author's summary, this isn't about cutting out cable companies, but more about having XBL and Bing replacing a local cable provider's program guide.

@Active Reload:
And for someone who has or was using DirecTV, they wouldn't have access to ESPN. They'd have to switch over to Comcast.

gamingdroid4723d ago (Edited 4723d ago )

A lot of what was said is somewhat ambiguous. The only part that was "clear" is that ESPN is a free service to Xbox Live Gold members. If it works just like that (which is what was said and indicated above) then the TV service would be free.

Besides, I'm not entirely sure how a cable TV service would matter as the Xbox doesn't have a coax input!

That means, they can't just be a guide... especially since it is called "Live TV" and the box now is a DVR so it needs to receive the stream. So this DOES sound like an attempt at cutting out the cable companies.

Either way, this is from a dubious source anyhow and things can change.

beast242tru4723d ago

sony slunks alot the playtv box has been around for a while dnt know why they just get in in america and advertise it wtf sony you let microsoft take controller free gaming and make it seem like they are first when you had the tech from ps2 times just needed advancement had the playtv from mabe 2008 now microsoft gonna bring this thing and make it seem like never done before WOW

gamingdroid4723d ago

Having technology doesn't mean jack squat!

It is in the execution and that is where Sony failed. Similarly, MS was in the smart phone business long before Apple, yet the iPhone is by far the most popular phone today.

DrRichtofen4723d ago

Im sure it will improve over time and get better and more features.

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360°

Microsoft's quest for short-term $$$ is doing long-term damage to Windows, Surface, Xbox, and beyond

Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's plans to increase every department's margins.

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windowscentral.com
Brazz20h ago

"The plan to move Xbox games to other platforms is codenamed "Latitude" internally, and I know there's debate and unease at Microsoft about whether or not this is a good idea. More upcoming Microsoft-owned games slated for PlayStation are already being developed. At least for now, they're potentially obvious games you'd most likely expect. And yes, while it's true Microsoft is a prolific publisher on PlayStation already, it has typically revolved around specific franchises like Minecraft. From what I've heard, Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's mandate to increase every department's margins. "

Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware.

Xeofate18h ago

"Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware."

It's for the best.

Quit stringing along xbox fans and screwing over PlayStation owners.

crazyCoconuts13h ago

Take good care of those Xboxes if you have 'em ...

outsider162413h ago

An Xbox game on a Playstation. Never in my years of gaming did i ever thought this was gonna happen.

jznrpg8h ago

It is dying anyway so doesn’t make much of a difference

VersusDMC8h ago

No way can they get rid of the hardware as probably 90% of game pass subscribers are hardware users.

Highly doubtful those users will move to PC or Cloud to subscribe there and the competition (Sony and Nin) will never have gamepass on their system.

If they want to keep the current subscribers, they need to keep releasing new hardware.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 8h ago
gold_drake19h ago

i think it will kill off the xbox brand. windows will be fine.

but there is and would be a chance that xbox might be killed off in the future. if they fail to make the money they put in. imo.

S2Killinit16h ago

They wont kill it, but they will go fully PC while keeping xbox as a brand, and go multiplatform for the most part. They will also work tirelessly to diminish console gaming’s importance.

PRIMORDUS13h ago

It would be best if Xbox goes the way of Sega, just make and publish games. I know I myself will not support them at all with buying games from them, you all can. 🙃

ChasterMies12h ago

The Xbox brand will live for the games. I don’t expect Microsoft to entirely drop out of gaming hardware. They make Surface tablets and laptops. They’ll make Xbox branded hardware for those that want it.

shadowT18h ago

"Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation"

Forza and Starfield next?

Skuletor17h ago

Starfield would be no surprise and there's the rumor that it will come to Playstation after the Shattered Space DLC, Forza (along with Halo and Gears of War) I find less likely but I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually end up on PlayStation too, especially if Xbox give up on hardware and go the Sega route.

shinoff218317h ago

Not to worried about forza. I'd rather see others like what inxile and obsidian are working on. Starfield sounds like it needs more time in the oven so let it cook first imo. If starfield and it's a small if does release on ps it'll be in the fall around the time for dlc or right at the dlc and come packaged with it.

-Foxtrot18h ago

In the words of Phil Spencer when he was talking about Nintendo last year

“It's just taking a long time for Microsoft to see that their future exists off of their own hardware"

S2Killinit16h ago

Yup. MS are a cancer to console gaming.

Aloymetal16h ago

100%!!
I wonder what happened to that dude that was always here posting those court articles with cartoons about MS spending all those billions in studios. He suddenly disappeared, I guess he doesn't like bad news when the green brand is in trouble. No new articles from him as of late...

PRIMORDUS13h ago

Yup, and it's only going to keep spreading.

Outside_ofthe_Box13h ago

Phil Spencer's words always comes back to bite him lol

17h agoReplies(7)
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130°

Microsoft's Absurd Antics Have Me Scared For Dishonored And Arkane Lyon's Future

With Arkane Austin no more and Lyon living for who knows how long, the superb Dishonored is in serious danger; Microsoft cannot be trusted.

Relientk772d ago

I love the Dishonored series so much and really want Dishonored 3. Microsoft better not screw this up.

JEECE2d ago

I mean, I think the fans will probably kill Arkane Lyon by cooking up reasons to hate whatever they do next without playing it. I've never seen a game so artificially disliked as Deathloop.

thesoftware7302d ago

Lol, why don't we just say, we are worried about all studios owned by MS now. They will keep closing studios until they have none left ...🙄

Skuletor2d ago

Just merge them all into a single studio, have it churn out a single Call of Duty every year and call it a day, lol.

Barlos2d ago

Don't be scared, you'll be fine.

Skuletor2d ago

It's exputer, fine is one word I would not associate with them.

Profchaos2d ago

I think it's becoming clear based on matt bootys comments there's no future for any IP that can't sell above 10 million within the launch window. But is also a small game that gives them prestige

/S it's beyond a joke right now

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290°

More Job Losses At Xbox, “There’s More To Come”: Paul Thurrott

Paul Thurrott in a recent episode commented on the on-going Microsoft fiasco hinting at more job losses and that "there's more to come".

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spieltimes.com
Sonic18814d ago (Edited 4d ago )

There won't be no more acquiring game publishers from Microsoft in the future . Xbox has to pay Microsoft back. It might take two decades to do that.

sagapo4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I don’t understand what you’re saying. Xbox IS microsoft so there’s no “paying back “.
And MS gross profit in 2023 was over 140 billion dollars so forget your 2 decades.

Unless you mean the money MS invested in Xbox (acquisitions included) and the time it will take for xbox as a brand to gain that money back on it’s own, then yeah, that could take a while.

romulus234d ago

The better term to use might be return on investment, xbox is simply a division of Microsoft one that MS can easily do away with if profit margins are not met. So in that regard he's right, if xbox isn't showing the expected return on investment the higher ups are expecting than it's unlikely Microsoft will acquire any other studios any time soon, especially if they are spending billions buying developers just to shut them down in the end.

MrBaskerville3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Xbox is a division that they discussed shutting down but doubled down on after Gamepass was pitched.

It needs to make money at some point. Big money.

rokos3d ago

According to Statista the net income of Microsoft is about $72.4 billion dollars which is a bit lower than last year profit. That is almost as much as Activision's acquisition but I assume that would be a one off since it costs so much plus I see how their focus has been shifted to AI, thus any major future investments will probably be in that area.

Markusb333d ago

i think you are really missing the point

VariantAEC3d ago

@romulus23
That is not why MS buys studios. They might continue to buy because it's about taking that sweet sweet IP out of the corporate husks of their acquisitions.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
SonyStyled4d ago

“There won't be no more acquiring game publishers from Microsoft in the future”

No bro, there do be is for Microsoft not acquiring for what is now if not what it be is 😂

4d ago Replies(2)
ChasterMies3d ago

Xbox isn’t a separate company from Microsoft. It’s all Microsoft.

Abear213d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Let’s be real, this is the media spinning all the acquisitions and liquidations of said developers and spinning it to make M$ the villain.

This was bound to happen, a bigger slice of pie and cut costs, when the games come they stand to make more and that’s their agenda—it was the writing on the wall when the sales went through and legally all those who approved the sale and mergers knew this would happen.

Snowflakes need to realize business is ugly and you can cry all you want but this is how capitalism works. And it works.

That said, M$ needs to steer the narrative and grab hold of all this, make their plans known, hype the hell out of all those dead IP’s they plan to revive, and be honest about the timeline. This is likely to involve mobile and IP on other consoles, and most people realize that.

The problem is this company is incapable of being transparent and seems to often want to dissuade and confuse is customer base. The lack of E3 has hurt Microsoft and I don’t think they know how to properly or effectively market their brand anymore.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
jwillj2k44d ago

There really needs to be a class action lawsuit here. You buy these companies just to put people out of jobs. And it’s not like something happened to derail their plans this WAS the plan. Microsoft has no business in this space at all.

franwex4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Microsoft has been doing this for years. They simply want the IPs. Look at Nokia. Look at Skype. This time it simply expanded to games. Gaming is not as important to Microsoft’s executives as it was to the founders too. Bill Gates was willing to sell the og Xbox at a loss. Steve Balmer approved the red ring of death fiasco. This CEO isn’t really a gamer.

-Foxtrot4d ago

Maybe it's time though to put a stop to it and use a big giant like Microsoft as a huge example to the rest of these big companies.

There has to be a line drawn somewhere.

People like the FTC and the like went against Microsoft yet their Actvision deal was still allowed to go through yet look what's happened...it's not even Acitivisions studios aswell, it's Bethesdas.

VariantAEC3d ago

Years?

Try several decades, and in the gaming space 2.3 decades.

Jon615863d ago

You do realize this happens in ALL industries? Or are you just saying this because it is Microsoft? In any case I feel for those that are being let go but the trch industry is suffering right now.

jwillj2k43d ago (Edited 3d ago )

This absolutely does NOT happen all the time. Let me know the last time 1 company with a terrible product track record spent 100 billion onto acquire MULTIPLE successful companies in under a year only to shut them down and stop making their products regardless of how successful they were. Not merge them, completely shut them down.

And you can’t use Microsoft in your example.

Notellin3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Class action lawsuit? The law is on their side and protects them at all costs. There are no rules to protect the people at the bottom.

jwillj2k43d ago

Not true when it comes to mass layoff do your research.

RNTody4d ago

Ninja Theory, Perfect Dark, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Wolfenstein 3, Dishonored, Prey, Doom, Quake... something tells me that bad things are going to happen to these entities under Microsoft.

MrDead3d ago

ID software, the makers of Doom and Wolfenstein that have been with us since 1991 could be gone and MS will keep the IPs.

I hope some of these studios can buy their freedom from MS otherwise this is going to be even more devastating for the industry and gamers.

Yui_Suzumiya3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

That's exactly what I'm worried about. I've been a fan of id since Wolfenstein 3D and I'm honestly afraid.

lodossrage3d ago

Toys for Bob saw the writing on the wall and bought themselves out.

Wouldn't be the first time a company did that under MS either. Bungie and Twisted Pixel did the same. Considering what just happened, I can see some other devs trying to buy themselves out too.

anast4d ago

Good thing the bosses of all those small studios made their money.

glenn19794d ago

they cant do it right now they will get burned

XiNatsuDragnel4d ago

Phil and his team need to be gone

lodossrage3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Won't make a difference.

The whole structure needs to be overhauled. Anyone that replaces Phil will be no different than him, Mattrick, or anyone else.

Until the company changes how they go about business, nothing will change

glenn19793d ago

I just don't have any idea what they would do , they have done sooo much damage on their xbox brand, they have a show at July or June I think, but will it even matter even they show amazing games, idkn

lodossrage3d ago

True,

But they may as well get it over with. Whether it happens now or later, the burning is going to hit the same.

Reality is the ONE move that can alleviate a lot of this is the one move they can't make. Remove day 1 from gamepass.

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