Xbox One's Game DVR, Skype and SmartMatch Restricted to Xbox Live Gold Subscribers

Post by Eorl @ 01:45pm 08/08/13 | 20 Comments

Microsoft has revealed that a handful of featured apps on their next-gen Xbox One console will be behind the Xbox Live Gold subscription, including the Game DVR system that allows players to record footage directly through the console.

A splash page on the official Xbox website showcases the features put behind the paywall, including the recently announced SmartMatch system that will offer unique matchmaking for multiplayer. Previous Xbox 360 Live Gold apps like multiplayer, Internet Explorer and the free monthly games will also make a return on the Xbox One. Oddly though Skype appears to be behind the Xbox Live Gold requirement, something which is currently free to use on a number of platforms.

A Microsoft representative has confirmed to One Hit Pixel that those not opting for the Gold subscription will be unable to record any game footage using the DVR built-in, stating that "Game DVR features will be available to Xbox Live Gold members only."

Microsoft's Xbox One is expected to be released sometime in November of this year, at a price point of $599.

xbox one microsoft xbox live gold

Latest Comments

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Topper
Posted 04:12pm 08/8/13

To be expected really

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Zapo
Posted 04:19pm 08/8/13

Curious, PS4 does not have similar requirements I believe.

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Tribal07
Posted 04:36pm 08/8/13

Ah Microsoft keep digging further down into the hole you created, you have to be a Xbox love gold subscriber for Skype? Really? It's free everywhere else, although you do need to add money to make overseas calls if you do that

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Raisty
Posted 05:32pm 08/8/13

Skypes probably in Gold membership as its group video with any skype user, which requires a premium Skype account currently?

Relevant links:
Polygon - Xbox Skype

Skype Premium

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joerocket10r
Posted 11:06pm 08/8/13

xbox & microsoft = LOL

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irogue
Posted 04:30am 09/8/13

Just when ppl started to think MS was listening and learning what its potential customer base wanted or needs - oh well i guess the belief at MS is if you are gullible enough to purchase a console and pay through the nose for games then you are also going to pay for a "gold membership" monthly.

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irogue
Posted 04:46am 09/8/13

Hmm i cannot edit my post, so here is what i was going to attach - https://twitter.com/yosp/statuses/365384078184284160

PS4 owners won't require a PlayStation Plus subscription to use the console's video capture features.

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Herron
Posted 08:16am 09/8/13

Sony makes first net profit in 5 years (from asset sales) while Microsoft continues to post billions. I think they've got some experience in making decisions that are sustainable and accepted by their target market.

Xbox Live Gold on the 360 was hardly a dud with no uptake. Numbers in April show that they have 43m active subscriptions.

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Khel
Posted 10:01am 09/8/13

Yeah, I think opposing XBox Gold on financial grounds is silly, you can get it for $50 a year, thats like $4 a month, if you can't spare $4 a month then you probably have bigger problems. Whether its right or wrong on principle, thats a fair enough argument to have, but personally I think I just stopped caring since its so convinient to just have Gold and its pretty easy to get $4 a month worth of value out of it.

Love it or hate it though, its obviously a business model that works so I wouldn't be expecting it to go away.

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irogue
Posted 10:36am 09/8/13

Priciniple, yes. Price, no.

It worked in the past, and it will work again because ppl see it as normal to be charged for what is otherwise free on other systems.

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deadlyf
Posted 11:23am 09/8/13

Yeah, I think opposing XBox Gold on financial grounds is silly, you can get it for $50 a year, thats like $4 a month, if you can't spare $4 a month then you probably have bigger problems. Whether its right or wrong on principle, thats a fair enough argument to have, but personally I think I just stopped caring since its so convinient to just have Gold and its pretty easy to get $4 a month worth of value out of it.

Personally I think it's deceptive advertising to claim the Xbone will cost $599 when you pretty much need a gold subscription to do anything.

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Eorl
Posted 11:31am 09/8/13

Personally I think it's deceptive advertising to claim the Xbone will cost $599 when you pretty much need a gold subscription to do anything.

I guess that can now be applied to the PlayStation 4, no? PlayStation Plus is required for multiplayer among other paywalled apps so that would be a "hidden" cost as well.

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Zapo
Posted 11:46am 09/8/13

What paywalled apps does the PS4 have? I thought they made it clear that you could record and share without PS Plus sub as well as use Netflix etc etc.

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Eorl
Posted 11:50am 09/8/13

What paywalled apps does the PS4 have? I thought they made it clear that you could record and share without PS Plus sub as well as use Netflix etc etc.

Currently these features are behind the PlayStation Plus:

I'm not exactly sure what "instant game collection" means. I believe Netflix, party chat and the DVR are outside of PSPlus.

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Khel
Posted 11:50am 09/8/13

What paywalled apps does the PS4 have?

Multiplayer

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Zapo
Posted 11:55am 09/8/13

I wouldn't call Multiplayer an app.

Either way I guess this is likely to be immaterial to most people, especially in Australia given we can't access Netflix etc from our consoles anyway.

Edit - Instant Game Collection is in reference to the fact that with PS Plus you get a bunch of free games every month with your subscription, you have access to all of them while you still have a valid sub. This was one of the key features of the PS Plus subscription as multiplayer was always available for free on the PS3. I think Microsoft is doing the free game thingo too now.

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ravn0s
Posted 11:57am 09/8/13

paying for multiplayer is also up to the publisher i believe.

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ravn0s
Posted 12:19pm 09/8/13

actually, on second thought, i think it's only f2p games and mmo's that don't require psn+

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eski
Posted 12:55pm 09/8/13

Its always bothered me that there is no option to auto download the free PS Plus games for each month. Its almost like they want to force you to log in and look at their store, or pay for the games at a later date!

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groganus
Posted 01:08pm 09/8/13

That's a small price to pay for free games though.

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