Posted by Jeremy M. Zoss at 9:34 AM Oct 27, 2009
IGN has reached out to Microsoft to get the company's response to the new
PlayStation/Netflix partnership, and according to an unnamed Microsoft source, Xbox 360 users should expect no changes in response to the news. In other words, you Xbox live Silver accounts still won't be getting access to the service. According to the spokesperson:
"The Netflix experience on Xbox LIVE is unique and reflects our
commitment for social entertainment. We believe we offer an experience
today that is a generation ahead of what others are offering," the
spokesperson said. "For a little over $4 a month Xbox LIVE Gold
membership is hands-down the best value in home entertainment, and
gives you exclusive access multi-player gaming and early demos as well
as Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm, "1 vs 100" and more."
It's true that Xbox Live Gold offers more features and has a better interface than Sony's free PSN service at the moment, and it also doesn't require a disc to use the Netflix streaming, which the PS3 will require. And, of course, it's never a good thing to be seen as reactionary. But Sony's system is clearly picking up steam, so Microsoft will have to counter at some point. I'd say there's still a chance that Netflix comes to Silver users at some point, perhaps as part of a larger realignment of Xbox Live.
