Xbox One to restrict Skype to Xbox Live Gold members

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 08/09/2013 07:58 AM | source: | 32 comment(s)

Limitations, limitations and more limitations. If you want to experience many of the features that Microsoft has in store for the Xbox One console, you had better have a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription ready to go. Microsoft has confirmed several of the console's major features will require Xbox Live Gold access.

In a page on the Xbox.com site, Microsoft has a list of all the Xbox One features that will need an Xbox Live Gold subscription. Besides features like playing multiplayer games and accessing streaming videos apps that are already required for the Xbox 360, Xbox Live Gold members who own the Xbox One will be the only ones to use its Skype chat program, the OneGuide television guide menu, the SmartMatch multiplayer matching service and the Game DVR options that let gamers record, save and upload game footage.

Even Internet Explorer apparantly requires a Live subscription.

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IcE
Moderator

Posts: 10696
Joined: 2008-11-01

#4636209 Posted on: 08/13/2013 05:19 AM

Honestly the next gen consoles can kiss my ass. They are simply under powered. 8 cores (basically 4 modules with two threads each) operating at 1.8GHz and a crappy GPU that is the equivalent to a 7850 but stripped down to save on power consumption and heat. Our PC's from two years ago in terms of raw processing power destroy these machines. Sure they will be better optimized but and because of x86 and more cores being used we PC gamers will get better performance out of ports than ever before. Developers are having to scale back graphics in games already to 720p to maintain 60fps in games or sacrifice AA for frame rate for better graphics. I shall just buy a 4770K and a Sabertooth motherboard near xmas and then a second 7970 in the new year and be happy for the next two-three years if not longer. Hate on me all you want, I don't care. Consoles do bring ease of use yes, but they also bring restrictions and they stagnate the industry with their fixed hardware for around ten years. Even the mobile smartphone and tablet chips are reaching unheard of levels of performance. Whilst consoles will be fixed for ten years PC and mobile will continue to progress. I shall only buy a PS4 once its like £150 for the first party games and that is it.

Pretty much. I miss the days when console specs were drool worthy.

Darkest
Senior Member

Posts: 10126
Joined: 2003-03-25

#4636273 Posted on: 08/13/2013 10:17 AM

I think paying a sub for a single game is ridiculous. I don't understand people that pay subs for MMOs. If I have to pay a subscription that money better allow me to play all my games.

A lot of MMO players would rather pay a sub than suffer a F2P or even B2P model. There are various reasons for it and it would probably result in taking this thread way off topic. I'd be happy to discuss it in another thread however should one be made.

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