Report: Microsoft removing Xbox Gold requirement for Netflix and Hulu

Microsoft is reportedly planning to remove the Xbox Live Gold requirement to access services like Netflix and Hulu, but may put other services (like its own original programming) behind a paywall to make up for it.

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One of the starkest differences between Microsoft and Sony's online offerings has been the Xbox Gold requirement to access video streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Users can watch Netflix movies on PlayStation systems without being members of PlayStation Plus. Microsoft is reportedly planning to rectify that situation soon.

Ars Technica reports that multiple sources have been briefed on the upcoming change, in light of preparations for the company's upcoming E3 presentation. We might see the announcement during its media briefing, but the decision isn't final and the company could still change its mind.

Now for the bad news. Though Microsoft may remove the Gold requirement for streaming services like Netflix, other services could be put behind Gold to make up for it. The report is unclear on whether that would mean existing services becoming Gold-exclusive, or if it refers to the original content coming from Xbox Entertainment Studios. The latter would make sense, given that it would put it on par with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon that have begun to produce their own original programming.

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  • reply
    May 13, 2014 7:00 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Report: Microsoft removing Xbox Gold requirement for Netflix and Hulu.

    Microsoft is reportedly planning to remove the Xbox Live Gold requirement to access services like Netflix and Hulu, but may put other services (like its own original programming) behind a paywall to make up for it.

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      May 13, 2014 7:13 AM

      nice, here comes a phone call to cancel my subscription

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      May 13, 2014 7:18 AM

      That would add a lot of value.

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      May 13, 2014 7:25 AM

      Hey, welcome to 2006, Microsoft! -_-

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      May 13, 2014 7:31 AM

      As a guy who recently purchased a Roku after using Xbox and then PS3 for years, everyone should get one of these little bastards. Or AppleTV or whatever. The convenience of "always on" alone has been worth it. It's so nice to just change inputs at get right back to streaming stuff. The reduced power consumption, the better experience (like HBO Go having 5.1 audio), the speedy interface... I love this thing.

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        May 13, 2014 7:36 AM

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          May 13, 2014 7:38 AM

          I would've gone with a Chromecast, but I wanted wired. I live in a very dense area so WiFi suffers a lot. And the Roku 3 was $85 on Amazon last week so it seemed like a good time to grab one.

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            May 13, 2014 8:12 AM

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            May 13, 2014 8:28 AM

            Would help if the Chromecast wasn't problematic with n, so mine runs on g only. :(

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            May 13, 2014 9:36 AM

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              May 13, 2014 9:38 AM

              Totally agree. I never use mine.

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              May 13, 2014 9:40 AM

              [deleted]

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              May 13, 2014 10:16 AM

              Good to know.

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              May 13, 2014 10:37 AM

              What? No. I've never had any issues with it. Why is it shit?

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              May 13, 2014 10:47 AM

              Not really. It's worth it just to be able to watch flash videos in full screen. Flash streaming of TV/Sports content is pretty common, so it's super handy for that alone.

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                May 13, 2014 10:50 AM

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                  May 13, 2014 10:53 AM

                  Screen mirroring can lag depending on your wireless scenario. None of the native streaming options have lagged for me and I use mine constantly since they were released.

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                  May 13, 2014 11:06 AM

                  Nope.

                  It occasionally breaks up and takes a few seconds to get going again, but I can live with that. I also think that is down to the source most of the time too.

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                    May 13, 2014 11:13 AM

                    I'm sure it's mostly the source, but I've definitely noticed a quality difference between my PS3 and my Roku, so the hardware/app seems relevant. I've been watching Archer on Netflix, and since it's animated it's easy to tell when the quality dips below HD, which it did frequently on my PS3. On the Roku it starts in SD for a few seconds but goes to HD and stays there.

                    It could be other factors, but all in all the Roku experience has been great.

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                  May 13, 2014 11:35 AM

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                    May 13, 2014 11:49 AM

                    Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the phone never actually streams anything to the Chromecast. The phone just tells it what to get from the internet.

                    It's good to hear you don't have issues though. At $30 I could see myself picking one up just to have a travel with (despite the lack of hotel support, which is a bummer).

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              May 13, 2014 11:19 AM

              Not being able to work in hotels completely unsold me on the device. I was only going to use it for travel.

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                May 13, 2014 11:34 AM

                Get a travel router. I never connect directly to hotel wifi/ethernet. It also makes it easier for the laptop/ipad/etc to connect to wifi since you're travelling with the same Wifi network name.

                I bought this TP link one a year ago and it's awesome. It's about 2"x2" and can be powered off a USB port.

                http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WR702N-Wireless-Repeater-150Mpbs/dp/B007PTCFFW/

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                  May 13, 2014 11:46 AM

                  Doesn't this require you to have an ethernetport in the room? How do you "signin" with one of these? Do you just do it once in a broswer and then your whole router is "unlocked"?

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                    May 13, 2014 12:28 PM

                    It works best with an ethernet port. I've tried to connect to wifi with it and create a new wifi network but sometimes it works and other times it doesn't.

                    And anything connected to the router is basically "unlocked" for hotel internet if you connect the router first, and then connect with your laptop/tablet to your router and proceed to the hotel wifi sign in page.

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        May 13, 2014 10:17 AM

        Yeah I have 3 now, one from every generation, and they all work great. The Gen 1 is starting to show it's age but I always choose those over xbox/ps3 and the built in tv apps.

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        May 13, 2014 10:33 AM

        Could you plug in an external bluray drive on one of these and play discs? My HTPC's getting old and I'm starting to weight my optionsé

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          May 13, 2014 10:41 AM

          I don't think so. There's probably a better option for that, like a Boxee or something.

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      May 13, 2014 7:55 AM

      I wonder if other entertainment apps are included in that like Amazon Video.

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      May 13, 2014 8:04 AM

      I'm surprised that it took this long for Netflix and Hulu to make Microsoft do this. Microsoft was the only people charging a "pay wall" to use services that Netflix and Hulu were already being paid for. Those services had no business being behind a pay wall.

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      May 13, 2014 9:30 AM

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      May 13, 2014 11:04 AM

      heh, what about Amazon Prime? I literally just ordered the Amazon TV box Sunday because my Gold membership on my 360 expired Sunday, and I was in the midst of watching 24 and Vikings and what not and had no clue you had to have Gold to watch Prime. Did I just waste my money on Amazon TV?

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      May 13, 2014 2:01 PM

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        May 13, 2014 3:25 PM

        Ayup. This was my last big objection to the XBO. I still don't like the Metro interface, but I can at least work with that.

        Of course now I don't have the money to get one, but maybe sometime down the line.

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