Chances are you may not see the sun this summer, because the head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, Phil Spencer, announced a slew of Xbox One and Xbox 360 goodies that are bound to keep you indoors.
A Kinect-less $399 Xbox One was just announced earlier today, set for release on June 9th. Now, Xbox One and 360 owners who do not have an Xbox Live Gold membership can enjoy the perks of their Netflix, Hulu Plus, and HBO GO subscriptions without being restricted by the XBL Gold paywall.  The new Gold-less features are not limited to popular paid-for streaming services, with apps like Machinima, Twitch, Internet Explorer, Skype, OneDrive, and over 170 more apps, being available to all Xbox owners regardless of subscription level.
Rolling along with the Xbox festivities, Games with Gold, the free games program aimed at delivering gaming goods to the Xbox 360, will now launch on the Xbox One, with the first two games being Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault. In June, the 360 will receive Dark Souls, Charlie Murder, and a bonus game of Super Street Figher IV: Arcade Edition. The best part about this is you’ll only need a single Gold membership account to gain access to the Xbox One and 360 goodies.
While freebies are still the main thing to look forward to on the Xbox One in June, discounts of up to 50-75% off of Xbox One titles such as Forza Motorsport 5 and Ryse: Son of Rome will also make an appearance.
When Phil Spencer was named Head of Xbox, he stated that he wanted to bring gaming to the forefront of Xbox once again. Do you feel he’s been owning up to his promise? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
HT: Xbox Wire
I want play multiplayer without gold membership š -X360
that will never ever happen
You pay to maintain the servers. If you want to know what happens when it’s free, gosign upfor SWTOR
This shit is hilarious. Everyone saying “YAY! I don’t have to pay twice to be able to use those services!” … but most of the people who are going to be using them are going to have a gold subscription anyway.. so sure, you can let it lapse and you don’t have to worry about not being able to use your netflix, but who the fuck cares? Honestly. I’ve had a sub for 7 years, and I renew it every year. I couldn’t care less about this, as its a non-issue. Who goes out and buys a console for $400-$500, then scoffs at paying $60 for a year of xbox live?
It all sounds great. I love the new changes. I hope they also continue to add retro game titles to the DLC. Lot of SEGA games still are not available. Quartet, Congo Bongo, Space Harrier and a ton I’m sure everybody else would like to have. If you like retro I’m HootyHaHa on Twitter and YouTube
To be honest i think Xbox is becoming more less popular and people are moving on to PlayStation mostly because of the payed subscription in the Xbox live. If it were to be free, i thinn they would make more money than before with non-paid XBL subscriptions
You do know that PS4 requires a paid subscription to play games online correct? The yearly subscription isn’t the problem. If anything just lower it to $40 for a year to be in line with PS4 yearly subscription.
What I would like to see is be able to capture more video when playing and also do video edits like you can on the PS4 as think those are some cool features that I would like to see on Xbox One. But first they need to fix the bugs such as the controler disconnect issue, the issue where you have to unplug the Xbox One in order for it to see the controller again, the issue when launching a game that it takes you back to the home screen which happens to digital games and disc games that are installed. These three issues need to be fixed immediately.
I don’t pay to play online with psn, never have. it’s time people wake up and realize xbox sucks,,,if you wanna play with your friends…go outside…multiplayer…yay…lets all play game with no point…except to shoot stuff.
Well if you plan on getting a PS4, get ready to start paying…
First off a kinect less xbone is stupid they go together like lamb and tuna fish. Second paying for live is the reason there #1 just put it on a credit card and have it reoccurring every year dummy then you wont have go buy a card every year. Third xbox is the shit im sick of hearing its not for gamers I want to game now. Im a hardcore gamer and I sit down and say xbox on and im gaming so not sure what these fanboys are talking about. Forth when we getting a baseball game come on already
I agree with Luke from below. Xbox has been taking so much of their dear sweet time about delivering games to the players. I got rid of my system 2 days ago due to that fact. I can watch movies anywhere. I’m a gamer. I’m ready to play NOW, not whenever.
Welcome to a console launch. The PS4 has little to choose from as well. If you took the time too look towards what will be coming this fall you’d -hopefully- be overjoyed. It takes a console a year into its cycle to obtain a solid library. Though I don’t know how with Killer Instinct, Forza 5, Titanfall, Dead Rising 3, Assassin’s Creed 4, Thief, Tomb Raider, Need For Speed: Rivals, Ryse: Son of Rome, Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Max: The Curse of the Brotherhood, Child of Light, Strider, or Rayman Legends you have had nothing to play.
Kinect-less Xbox??? So that means those who bought it with the Kinect might see an update where the Kinect isn’t required? Or did I just miss that in the news feeds?
You don’t need to have the Kinect plugged in since launch. The “Day One” update got rid of that necessity.
What about matchmaking online gaming like. COD multiplayer?
when they were asking for feedback a while ago, one of the most repeated things was infact this issue of having to pay twice for things like netflix, hulu plus, and crunchyroll, so im overjoyed
NO! The biggest thing addressed was the netflix/ other crap. I will be convinced you give a crap about gaming, when we see a slew of killer 1st party IP’s… I can watch movies and TV just fine without an xbox. get back to gaming since its the reason most of us buy a GAMING CONSOLE!!
Halo, Titanfall and Quantum Break are incredible games. Much better than Sony’s line up this year -_-
I think he should make Xbox live free so that people don’t have to ago out buying Xbox live membership cards every year
I think you’re a fucking moron
Not paying twice for subscription services is one thing, like Netflix and Hulu Plus, but the day Xbox Live Gold gaming becomes free, the quality of game play, server maintenance and connection quality go away… There’s a reason Live has dominated multi player gaming for years now… and a reason Titan fall and games like that can play so smoothly… You get what you pay for man…
That would bee ridicuolous beccause they jave servers servers that aee set up specifically for xbox which is why the xbox hass a much better network than plqystation and those serivers cost aa lot of money
La iniciativa es buena, pero con el tiempo se debe eliminar del mercado esta suscripciĆ³n “Gold”, ya que debemos pagar dos veces por un solo servicio. Ejemplos un juego en linea: debemos comprar el juego y la Gold. Si pagamos Netflix necesariamente debemos tener la suscripciĆ³n gold. Saludos
Way to go, Spencer. Liking the new decisions. Keep it up.
Does it say if the same changes to netflix&co, if EU will change too, since i do feel abit ripped, paying for both?
Hope WWE Network is on this list of no longer needing Gold Membership!
I think the idea was to take gold requirement away from all non-gaming apps, and the ones listed were merely examples.