MS Attempting to Explain Why Live MP Fee is Necessary, But Not So On PC

Microsoft has been making some drastic changes in their gaming initiatives in the the few weeks. It all started when they announced Quantum Break, once a Xbox One exclusive, will also be coming to Windows 10 PC. Then earlier this week, the company announced that Forza will also be coming to Windows 10. In short, Microsoft views Xbox One and Windows 10 as a singular platform and it won’t be a big surprise if Gears of War 4 also launches on both platforms.

This has apparently made some Xbox One fans unhappy. The PC platform offers free multiplayer gaming compared to the paid model on Xbox Live. Although this debate can be subjective and it depends on what kind of features appeal to you, some fans have began started to question the purpose behind Xbox Live when according to them they can engage in multiplayer matches for free on Windows 10. This has also led Xbox fans to draw comparisons between the console and Windows 10.

Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg recently took to Twitter to defend against such claims. When asked why one should pay for Xbox Live when one can essentially play MP matches for free on Windows 10, Greenberg explained that it’s the case of different business model, cost of ownership and essentially two different markets in PC and Xbox, while emphasizing that Xbox Live Gold memberhsip “offers an incredible value on the console” and “it’s a matter of choice.” Aaron then explained that buying a PC as powerful as the Xbox One will require three times the Xbox One’s cost but did specify that cost models of hardware vary quite differently. To sum it up it does not make any sense to compare Xbox One and Windows 10 in terms of online functionality and hardware capability. One is a static platform (for now) and other can be updated as per the user’s budget.

http://gamingbolt.com/aaron-greenberg-on-why-xbox-one-and-windows-10-comparison-makes-no-sense-gold-offers-great-value

The perpetual spin cycle at MS is working overtime.

I've already resolved that I won't be renewing the free 1 year of gold that came with my Xbone.

Doesn't really matter to me. It's a great thing to play online but Xbox Live has always been a charged service. Even Sony has adopted this so it's not a big deal if you can afford it which if you are a gamer I don't see why you can't. You but about how many $65 dollars a year, how much skins or DLC or add-ons to games every year and you can't spend $60 a year but you'll have Netflix or Hulu lol. Most things is a charged service so don't get why anyone would be so upset at this when it's been like this for years.

If they really want to make XBL worth it they need to step up their games with Games with Gold. Lords of the Fallen this month is good but they need to start offering more inciting games. Sorry to say but Styx and Crime and Punishment don't exactly set me on fire. How about Forza Horizon 2 or Sunset Overdrive now that those games are a year and a half old? Hell about the Master Chief Collection? If you're doing 360 games then offer something people want to play.

There is so much BS in those Tweets it's not funny. He said,"aron then explained that buying a PC as powerful as the Xbox One will require three times the Xbox One’s cost."

Because they can't force it on PC, and they can force it on a closed system ?

I think you miss the point. The question was asked why are you charging to play on Xbox Live, but you can play the same first party games on Windows 10 for free.

Yepperzz, plus I get my one year sub. for less than 40 bucks on ebay all the time and that's small potatoes considering I'm getting 4 GWG games a month at no extra charge plus many of the digital games I bought last gen are now brought over to X1 via BC. Good stuff.

Translation: Xbox players are suckers.

lol that was TERRIBLE haha.

• When giving all xbox one games away to PC players

MS: "we views Xbox One and Windows 10 as a singular platform"

• When asked why xbox one players are still required to pay sub fee for online and their windows 10 players don't

MS: " it’s the case of different business model, and essentially two different markets in PC and Xbox"

lmao smh.

Not everyone can be a youtube gamer like you that don't even have a PS+ lol.

At least the suckers know who they are and jump right to the defense of daddy M$ lol.

no it's because they already tried it on PC and it was a shitstorm

I get the point, I understand that it doesn't make much sense. PC gamers have always had the luxury of gaming online without paying and that's a great thing and kinda makes me wish I was a PC gamer like that also. This has been a paid service for years on Xbox and if they've been paying for it for years then really they have no reason to complain about it too much now. Gaming is an expensive hobby, we all know that cause we are in it and I understand if someone doesn't have the funds to keep up but if it's something that you've been doing for years, why is it an issue now that PC gamers can now play the game online for free. I mean MS giving away some PC games now cause if you buy QB on Xbox live you get the game for free on Windows. Do I wish it was free, of course I do, I wish PSN stayed free also but to maintain things and services you have to put a cost on it, Sony learned that lesson too from the PS3 to the PS4. I'm not even sure but don't PC players play SF online for free?

The answer is simple. PC gamers won't allow that shit and wield more power than console gamers. It's easier to nickel and dime someone when they rely on you for the hardware and network infrastructure.

Honestly, it's probably because the price point for a console like the Xbone and PS4 would need to be $500-$600 to justify its manufacturing cost. The annual fee is just a way to sell the console at a price point that is more palatable to the consumer. Most people don't even figure the initial cost of a second controller and the year of online they are going to have to pay for right after purchase into the cost that they will have to pay for the console. I think it would be nice if there were a version of these consoles on the market that cost an extra $100-$150 but included a free membership to Plus/Gold for the life of the console.

Its not necessary at all, they are charging for it because people keep paying for it and its as simple as that.

They tried charging for GFWL and it failed because PC gamers wont suddenly start paying for something thats always been free, especially when they can get a similar/better service for free elsewhere. Console gamers cant get it for free elsewhere, they have to pay because everyone else is paying.

And brain dead lemmings gobble all that shit up lol. They are a yo-yo string for M$.

When it comes to paying online fees for both XBL/PSN, I always search for the lowest 1 year price pre-paid cards like maybe around $30 dollars and there are good deals every now and then at Wal-Mart, [Meh Wal-Mart is my only last option] Target, Radio Shack, ect so it's always a good idea to search for pre-paid cards deals then paying full price XBL/PSN.

Though to be honest, I understand why everyone is piss off why gamers shouldn't pay a dime for online but I do understand that stuff like this cost money to maintain online.

Hahah so what does that make Sony fans? They had free online play then all of a sudden Sony decides they're going to charge this gen. Cows were so adamantly against P2P ( and that's paying to 2 play for that special someone that has problems understanding that) online said it should always be free and would never pay for it. Then Sony starts charging and cows talk about how great it is now hahahhah......getting tired of looking stupid super cow?

Sony charges because they have no viable competition. They knew they could get away with it after M$ completely botched their console this gen. So even when Sony does something bad it's because of M$.

why is it MS' fault that sony decided to charge this gen?

He's right though. Console gamers will pay for online while PC players won't. They're 2 different business models as far as online but can still be a singular platform when it comes to sharing games. I'm pretty sure that's what he meant. I'd like to see Sony explain why it's necessary to charge for online this gen when they said it should be free last gen. I'm sure you'd eat every word they'd say because, like most cows, your head is living up Sony's ass.

After DRM, no used games, 24 hour check ins, mandatory Kinect, weaker specs all for $500 Sony was able to slip online fees in without anyone noticing or caring.

It's always easier to rip people off on closed ecosystems, just look at Apple, you think their devices are expensive? take a look at the apparel&repair costs

Thats great for me. I hardly use my xbone as it is so having that library shared with my pc and avoiding a yearly fee will clear up some much needed space in my living room and fill up some room in my wallet.

Couldnt have asked for anything better.

@lostrib:

He's saying that cause he doesn't game at all really so he can call gamers suckered for paying, not realizing that Sony players have to pay online also to play online LOL. The fakeboy clown logic.

@NathanDrakeSwag: but why is MS responsible for Sony's decisions

@NathanDrakeSwag: doesn't Sony also charge for BC? Fact of the matter is console players get nickel and dimed because they rely on the manufacturer for all their services.

Of course they wont. If they did, there's a very high chance for the paid subscription to be a GFWL 2.0.

Because they are the only other "competitor" Sony has in the console space and when they completely drop the ball like they did this gen it allows Sony to get away with more.

In other words, he just games on PS3 online free lol.

@davillain-:

Yeah you are right, gamers shouldn't have to pay to play online and this has been a debate for years.. I understand also that yoy have to charge to maintain the service, it's a double edge sword really.

I think offering PC gamers the "option" of getting 48 games a year at no extra charge like X1/360 combo may entice some PC gamers to go with a sub, at the right price. , just sayin. :P

@BigShotSmoov007: Well said. I have pent $60 in an hour in a bar and the next morning I am out more than that and can't remember anything I did. I'll gladly pay what comes to $5 per month in order to play with live friends. I do it with PSN as well and aside from a few here and 2 army buds, one of which doesn't play MP I sometimes wonder why.

@NathanDrakeSwag: but that is Sony's decision to get away with more, not because of MS

@davillain-:

Doubt he even does that lol. He just watches youtube videos of games and dream he can play them.

If M$ created a viable product Sony wouldn't have felt like they could get away with it.

@cainetao11:

Exactly, I get the cost shouldn't be there and people shouldn't have to pay but those would be the same people with netflix lol. Why should you have to pay for a movies that you've probably seen over and over again lol. It's about the cost to keep the serice going and it's $60 a year, that's really not much at all. It's apart of gaming on the Playstation and xbox now but at least they give us games we can download and play every month for free.

MS didn't make them do that. Sony is responsible for their decisions not MS

@NathanDrakeSwag: real question. You do realize that everything you are saying is bullshit right? I mean you don't really buy none of that nonsense you just wrote? I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here.

@ceeuzders: gwg has been wiping the floor with the indiestation +

I

Why are cows acting like only Xbox fans are suckers?

Hello you delusional clowns, you pay for online this gen as well, don't start acting like you're in a better position than they are.

Are you seriously implying these companies don't respond to each other? They are competing for the same exact market. Sony wants to make money and they used their nearest competitor falling flat on their face to start charging for online.

Uh do you have any evidence to back up this claim?

@NathanDrakeSwag: That's some seriously pass the buck, not taking responsibility for themselves shit your talking there. I thought Sony DID create a viable product? So why charge for mp? I called that shit in 2009. I knew they were going to this gen. Look at their market Capital and debt level. They'd be idiots not to. MS didn't make any PS owner pony up their money instead of starting an online petition and backlashing Sony. These people make petitions about FF13, DMC 4 going multiplat but don't speak out against this? Spare me.

May 2013 when M$ revealed the X1. Sony knew they could do anything they wanted after that trainwreck.

That's not evidence, try again.

If you don't already do this, then here's your chance. Sign up for Bing Rewards. You earn points for using Bing search every day. You must be at least 13 years old, so most people on the boards here shouldn't have an issue signing up for it.

• 15 points earned for doing searches on your PC (2 searches = 1 point)
• 10 points earned for doing searches on your mobile device (2 searches = 1 point)
• There are usually 3 links in the Bing Dashboard you can click to earn 1 point each daily

You can generally earn 28 points a day with about 5-10 minutes of your time. There are sometimes emails that come to you where you can click the links to earn a couple points and at least once a week there's a 3 question quiz that earns you 3 points when completed. If you do all the searches, click all the links and do the once a week quiz, you can earn 199 points every 7 days.

Once you hit a Gold status (which isn't hard to do), you get a discount on rewards you can put your points towards. A month Xbox One Gold Membership costs 699 points (679 points for a Gold status). If you earn the 28 points a day, that means in 25 days you can use your points to buy a Xbox One month Gold Membership.

You can play Xbox One online with a Gold Membership for free, every month.

I tend to put my points to $5 Amazon gift cards. I've got $50 in gift cards saved up on Amazon.com.

Then, to top it off, you can also refer up to 5 people. If they make silver status, you can earn 50 points (up to 250). Last I checked, this requires an invite through Facebook.

It's something to think about if you like to game online with your Xbox One. It's a meager amount of your time to earn some points every day and you can game online for free.