Klobrille suggests Xbox Live Gold (and the MP paywall) may be going away entirely. Replaced by GamePass.

For whatever its worth, verified insider Klobrille (one of the most reliable Xbox leakers, along with Shinobi, leaked acquisitions of Playground Games and Obsidian) is in the ResetEra Xbox thread right now, albeit using cryptic language, suggesting Xbox Live (and the mp paywall with it) may be going away entirely. You heard that right.

In response to someone posting the following tweet from Brad Sams:

Klobrille responded:

https://www.resetera.com/threads/xbox-game-studios-otx-you-had-me-at-halo.246538/page-92

Yea ... No.

XBL Gold is an artificial barrier that prevents a frictionless ecosystem between consoles, PC, and xCloud. That's why it's a problem and significantly raising the entry cost for online multiplayer would only make the situation worse and practically kill their console online population.

In response to the following post:

Please tell me your'e implying what I think your'e implying o:

Other posts ITT:

He didn’t just say what I think he did, did he?

Klobrille responded:

The question is not if the online multiplayer paywall falls. The question is when.

This would potentially be a VERY bold move. The implications of which would put Sony in a very compromising position.

Sony would be left holding the bag, and either be forced to follow suit, forfeiting a massive revenue stream of $2-3 billion dollars, or keep the PS Plus MP paywall, and look out of touch. Playstation Plus is one of the primary revenue streams of not just Playstation, but Sony as a whole. Billions of dollars were talking here. To put this in perspective, it makes $2-3 billion, and Sony as a company made $5.3 billion dollars in the fiscal year ending march 2020.

Its not a question of IF Sony would be forced to follow suit (they will) but Microsoft has already done the legwork of retooling their business model and pivoting their incentive structure away from a Live Services paywall and towards a "netflix style" games delivery platform. They've also already built up brand equity around GamePass. So when they drop the paywall, they have something in place to replace it with.

With Sony, they would have to do a HARD pivot of their business model. You cannot just flip a switch at the last minute on a $2-3 billion service that makes up more than a THIRD of your entire companies annual operating profits. They have investors and quarterly financial projections to meet. They could rebrand/retool their business model to compete with MS, and introduce their own "GamePass" style subscription service, but anything they did would require a refractory period before it yielded results.

While im not putting my full weight behind this, I think Cows would be wise to calm down and wait for next thursday before making fools out of themselves.

Wait until AFTER next week to start the fake panic/concern/FUD.

This would be awkward if it becomes a reality especially after the meltdown over yearly subscriptions being canned.😮

What about the all people who bought cards now? There gonna be pissed if they end up with xcloud or some crap instead of live

They should just go for the ultimate sub. all access to all digital games for ~$ 200+ / year.

Try harder.

200 fuggin dollars thats the price of a console almost per yerar thats outargeous u have to pay internet bills to get online thats the charge what the hella re u paying microsoft for

Yeah something is most definitely happening with Xbox Live Gold. Really looking forward to a big announcement of what it is at their show in a few days.

PS Now already exists.

Bro im just saying this is a lose / lose situation if there doing only a yearly bundle than people who just want live have to pay a lot of more for live.

If there doing free online people who stocked up on it and bought a lot of time are gonna be like wtf i just wanted live i bought this live an there not gnna be cool with having paid for it.

They’ll probably just convert existing users over. That’s likely why they took the yearly subscription cards away so people wouldn’t stock up or whatever.

This would be another good move by Microsoft.

Xbox....for the players

Games. "What are you paying Netflix for, I already pay for internet!!!"

I'll believe it when I see it. XBL is by far the biggest source of profit for the Xbox brand and as good as game pass is, they won't recoup lost XBL subs with new game pass subs.

Well something needs to be done, lol. I highly doubt lems are going to be cool with paying $100 for Live Gold, which is the state of things at the moment.

Makes sense, I had stocked up on Xbox live gold with cheap deals, did the $1 dollar ultimate deal last E3 and it switched my gold sub to Xbox ultimate for next 2 years.

If anything is announced, keep your expectations in check because it likely won't be announced next week.. Aaron Greenberg has already said as much, so when it's not announced next week let's not have a resurgence of these fake panic threads..

If anything, the future of Xbox Live Gold will be announced in August alongside the Xbox Series S (aka Lockhart).. if they want one last mic drop (or to soften the blow), that'll be the perfect place and time to do it; alongside the announcement of a new Xbox console at a ultra-low entry price point..

@Antwan3K said:

If anything is announced, keep your expectations in check because it likely won't be announced next week.. Aaron Greenberg has already said as much, so when it's not announced next week let's not have a resurgence of these fake panic threads..

If anything, the future of Xbox Live Gold will be announced in August alongside the Xbox Series S (aka Lockhart).. if they want one last mic drop (or to soften the blow), that'll be the perfect place and time to do it; alongside the announcement of a new Xbox console at a ultra-low entry price point..

Bro these aren't panic threads. People are voicing their concerns. I mean Xbox Live is currently 100 dollars for year and thats twice as much as ps+ which does the same thing theres no reason it should be twice as expensive ps4 as voice chat parties and servers and the same exact games every month.

Theres no excuse 100 dollars vs 50 dollars for the same thing.

@ProtossRushX said:

@Antwan3K said:

If anything is announced, keep your expectations in check because it likely won't be announced next week.. Aaron Greenberg has already said as much, so when it's not announced next week let's not have a resurgence of these fake panic threads..

If anything, the future of Xbox Live Gold will be announced in August alongside the Xbox Series S (aka Lockhart).. if they want one last mic drop (or to soften the blow), that'll be the perfect place and time to do it; alongside the announcement of a new Xbox console at a ultra-low entry price point..

Bro these aren't panic threads. People are voicing their concerns. I mean Xbox Live is currently 100 dollars for year and thats twice as much as ps+ which does the same thing theres no reason it should be twice as expensive ps4 as voice chat parties and servers and the same exact games every month.

Theres no excuse 100 dollars vs 50 dollars for the same thing.

"bro", it's a fake panic thread when you're making wild assumptions before any official announcements on the future of Xbox Live Gold are made..

If online multiplayer is indeed dropped from the paywall (making all your comments thus far "fake panic"), i hope to see this same energy for Sony's PlayStation Plus if it continues to charge for online multiplayer while it's free on Xbox consoles and PC..

Not really. $ 200 / year is nothing to me for the ability to play all new games, in a system, day 1 + bonus of Plus and Now.

New games are expensive. 3 big games on day one are already $ 180 this year but you could recoup some of those if you rush and resell. Not having to hassle myself with that would be nice, plus if I wanted to can play a little more leisurely as long as I'm subbed.

I'm not really into hoarding titles though.

Anyway

Maybe they'll announce a better bundle alongside the july event otherwise I think a reason would be that they can't keep allowing cheap ways to play their big exclusives:

https://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/can-ms-really-afford-all-their-big-exclusives-day--33497633/

They might be looking for ways so that they can keep up with their strategy of releasing big expensive games easily accessed, so cheaply because you can just cancel the sub after playing Halo Infinite/HellBlade 2 for $ 1-15

@joebones5000: It's also more expensive and if its so good why would they need to force live users to switch to it for more money per month.

This is just a price increase thats all it is so more features big price increase im out man im out.

@ProtossRushX: You card would still be valid but keep trying

Thanks you MS...For the gamerz.... Jazz. :P

"XBL Gold is an artificial barrier that prevents a frictionless ecosystem between consoles, PC, and xCloud. That's why it's a problem and significantly raising the entry cost for online multiplayer would only make the situation worse and practically kill their console online population"

This makes too much sense to not be true. Bet you it'll be announced in the next few days. MS is doing a lot of things while Sony has a RDNA1 console that they try to cover with a fast SSD.

Microsoft want everyone on GamePass

Most Xbox owners are on Xbox Live.

If Microsoft remove Xbox Live cost and leave GamePass as an optional purchase this would be a crazy for the players move that would gain a lot of respect.

If Microsoft removes Xbox Live and makes everyone pay GamePass price that includes Xbox Live and GamePass then this would be bad for those not with GamePass but really good for those with GamePass.

I think it will be the cost of GamePass but include

Xbox Live

A better GamePass with more games.

Xcloud

An optional version to include GamePass on PC, like ultimate but better.

This will annoy some with the increased cost but its a big step to the Netflix type gaming Microsoft want.

It would be funny if MS, the ones with the best console online infrastructure goes free, but Nintendo and its 1994 online infrastructure still charges yearly 😂

They will jack the prices of Game Pass to $15/mo at least when they do that.

Wouldn't gamepass be the new paywall instead?

Maybe, maybe not. Gamepass can be its own thing and online gaming could be free. Or it can be bundled with Gamepass, which I prefer they don't, but I don't run their shit.

Yeah I think they're trying to make gamepass the one subscription. I don't see Live going completely free without subscription unless they're really gonna dig deep to go after Sony.

I don't think Live being free would have anything to do with Sony. Live being free open the company to more profits from microtransactions. Most microtransactions are for online games.

True, but they'll certainly use that as a selling point. "The other platforms charge and we're doing away with that!" Or something along those lines.

Is incredible seeing some one who has defend xbox live fee for years act like sony will be in trouble if MS does this,with what face would you or any other lemming here can even lift a finger to point to sony when the topic is paying for online play MS charged people for 11 years before the PS4 charge a single person and you liked it love it and defend it.

The second point that strike me is that you are not getting free online play,you will be charge MORE as now you will pay $15 a month for gamepass platinum taking for good that it will be piggy back ride to the service how much is $15 x 12?

Then how you credit MS as having done a leg work simply because they have gamepass,some how alone the way you and do to you extreme fanboysm, you forgot that sony has PS Now which is basically from were MS copy its service and that has been runing longer and even have way more games than MS does on their service.

So if some one did allot of legwork first was sony who had a cloud service for games for some time now,all sony needs to do is join the services under 1 fee as well,and we don't even know if that was comming already.

Gamepass has been given dirt cheap for 1 dollar and on PC it cost $5 dollars,so is not that the service is so popular because it is great,is because it was been given dirt cheap as well.

But hey continue to spread your hypocrisy and double standard as usual.

They can definitely can. Paying for online gaming has to die. Whoever bites the bullet first would be good for all gamers.

Yup, this gonna be an interesting generation.

Netflix style game subscriptions vs old school physical/digital purchases. Unfortunately, I dont believe sony's box art for ps5 games is going to end up being that collectible.

Agreed!

Question I have is if price will change, for instance the $5 for XBLG factored into Game Pass Ultimate, will that be reduced to $10 and everything will fall under Game Pass by itself? If they do put everything under one subscription, I can potentially see that as upsetting some for costs, and giving critics more room to complain.

Furthermore, I wonder if news of subscription cards being made unavailable means outright elimination of the service, or if they'll alter payment to a recurring charge at a lower rate, something like $5/month which is what the XBL annual subscriptions average out to. Currently month to month XBLG is like $10 I think, I definitely think it is time to eliminate that, Game Pass Ultimate factors in XBLG at $5/month on top of the Game Pass $10/month charge. It would just make sense if they wish to keep a stand alone Gold service around they alter the model a great deal.

On a corporate level I think switching to recurring XBLG charge over annual or quarterly charges might be more preferable to smooth out projections of their revenue streams between quarterly reports.

Oh well, I am sure whatever is happening will become clear in a few days.

So you started gaming last week right?

https://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/how-can-ms-justify-charging-for-xbox-live-26754305/

https://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/should-ms-get-rid-of-xbox-live-fee-31664214/

https://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/xbox-live-why-am-i-being-forced-to-pay-to-play-gam-27554810/

https://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/xbox-live-doesnt-cost-microsoft-anything-to-run-it-27516604/

And thats nothing there are tons of thread were people cry about xbox live,in fact cows have call it an artificial barrier and pay toll for more than 10 years,lemming NOW agree without putting a fight because they think it is some sort of weapon vs the PS5.🤣🤣🤣

Got to love that hypocrisy in this place.

In fact TC was one of the fierces MS defenders when it came to Xbox live.

MS is working hard to offer a quality system with a good service. What is Sony doing? They talk about their SSD like nothing else inside a next gen system matters. Something is wrong, dead wrong.

A company changes its approach from 10 years ago and someone cant have a different opinion on it.

Most people dont live in the past.

Yes because MS job is to make your wet dreams come true.

Ultra low price point free xbox live boy you people are setting your self for a mayor ownage.

Another hypocrisy moment for Pedro who brushed up MS hiding free to play games under live pay wall with a.

"This doesn't affect those who already pay"

Oh god this pleace really sucks.

Lets see what does this thread try to claim? That Live would be drop,in favor of been bundle with gamepass right?

Does PS Now support multiplayer for both PS4 and PC?

Yes, games in the PlayStation Now library support multiplayer, just like the retail versions of the game. Multiplayer invites can also be sent and received, just like normal.

In addition, you can enjoy PS4 and PS3 multiplayer games online through PS Now without a PlayStation Plus subscription. PS Plus is required for online multiplayer access for PS4 and PS3 games outside of the PS Now service.

https://blog.playstation.com/2019/10/01/playstation-now-everything-you-need-to-know/

Yeah Sony already did that if you pay for PS Now you don't need PSN + for online play on PS3 and PS4 games.

So what sony is doing you asked?

Setting the tune so that that other like MS can fallow while their pathetic fanboys try to imply that MS is the greatings thing since electricity.

So not only MS copy PS Now with gamepass now they copy this as well,now you were saying?

Stop it man sony already did this with PS Now if you pay for PS now you don't need PSN+ to play online,so basically MS is one of the worse copy cats out there man they copy PS Now and now is been say they will copy sonys move as well with PSN+ subscription not been need it for online play if you have PS now.

Your like a child, but but but we did it first that makes us the best.

They all copy each other and your the only person who thinks because someone did it first it makes them the best.

Meanwhile in the real world those remember who did/do it best.

Still doesnt change the fact you live in the past and thats where you will be for a long time.

But we did it first, but 10 years and 3 days ago we had better resolution, but you said this 6 years and 3 months ago.

Your one of a kind my friend. I'm sorry I laugh at you instead of with you but you bring entertainment either way.

@tormentos: If they bundle it with gamepass and increase the price to $100, that's shit, no denying there. But if Live becomes free, that's what matters, and Sony better follow them with their inferior online.

We'll see. If they do good for them and their base. Sony would likely follow suite. Wouldn't be hard to combine PS+ and PSNow.

Thats not what is been show here,they will join all services,gamepass ultimate is $15 a month so times $12 is allow more than $60 people pay now.

It would also force people into gamepass,but what do i know about forcing right because forcing is great when MS does it,when sony tell you to get a PS5 for certain game like it has been the case for generations some how that is bad.

That funny didn't sony make a deal with MS to use their cloud service? So well if sony online suck it would be because MS cloud sucks no way around that one bro.

By the way is nice to see cheer for MS instead of trying to make see that you are another PC gamers.🤣

BUllshit re read this shitty thread and tell me is not a glorified ass kissing to MS crediting MS for shit sony has done already?

In fact in my first post i state it very clear and the person who makes this thread make it even more lol worthy.

That funny that is the reason people go to playstation more than the xbox because they remember who did it best.

I love that this rumor has Cows gulping and pulling at their collar.

With PSPlus possibly left holding the bag on paid online, the PS5 being weaker, and apparently being RDNA 1.5, and possibly being more expensive, I imagine the only job harder than being Tormy right now is being Sean Spicer 3 years ago. You're going to have your hands full over the next 3 days bruh.