@nyadc: So what exactly does Xbox LIVE do except host files and messaging? Online gaming is hosted by players' internet connections. Remember that this argument wasn't that xbox LIVE had no servers whatsoever. This argument was about if xbox LIVE did anything STEAM didn't, and the answer is a big fat NO.

@clone01: SONY wasn't the one who started the BS trend. They only did it once MS showed them how stupid gamers are.

SONY has proven that they will never harm the consumers if there's a risk of them losing marketshare and profit.

@LJS9502_basic: Except he isn't. Xbox LIVE is just a file hosting service.

SONY will cave within 1 year once Microsoft drops their fee.

@nyadc: Truth hurts.

That "Changing hosts" message in your recent BO3 match on Xbox LIVE is just a bug. It was Microsoft's super awesome dedicated server glitching up. ROFL...

@nyadc:

Microsoft's Xbox LIVE back-end servers is just a file hosting service like steam. Anyone trying to claim Xbox LIVE is more than an overglorified file hosting service is an Xbox fanboy.

Also, ROFL on 300,000+ servers. That figure was for ALL of Microsoft's services. Xbox is probably using only 1 server, since no one has Xbox LIVE Gold.

Get rekt.

@nyadc: Neither does Xbox LIVE. It's just an online store. The "back-end" network for games comes from the players' internet connections, not MS's servers.

The only thing Microsoft is hosting on Xbox LIVE are game files, which is exactly what Valve does with games on Steam. Microsoft probably spends no more than a few ten thousand dollars on server hosting every year (Probably less now that no one has Xbox LIVE Gold).

@LJS9502_basic: Uhh, no. There are no costs unless you're using dedicated servers. Almost all console multiplayer games are Peer2Peer (Using 1 player's internet service as a server). As long as Microsoft gets their grubby hands off the online portion of multiplayer games, you would still be able to play them even if MS shuts down the Xbox LIVE servers.

@nyadc:Those costs are covered through sales through the online store. Steam has all of those features and they don't charge you to use their platform. But do keep advocating for the rip-off service known as Xbox LIVE Gold. Xbox will never succeed with that added charge now that PlayStation is also charging for online play. Microsoft shot themselves in the foot. How ironic is it that Microsoft's own greedy tactic is what's causing them to fail?

@nyadc: No, it does not. Peer2peer gaming (Microsoft's way) costs nothing on Microsoft's end.

I think it's great that the Xbone is failing. The Xbone is just a terrible console and the company running it is just god awful.

Hopefully, they fail and start implementing consumer-friendly practices. Any real gamer would hope the Xbox fails.

It's time MS gets rid of pay2play online. The Xbox will never take-off now that SONY is the defacto choice this gen and is also charging for online play. By charging for online play as well, MS is limiting their consumer base. MS also needs to make more sophisticated exclusives like The Last of Us and Uncharted.