Netflix - Gold

It is completely absurd that Xbox users are required to pay for Xbox Live Gold Membership in order to watch Netflix on our $600 entertainment console, when Netflix can be watched through any other device for free. This is bad for all of us, including Microsoft's
public image.

:)

 

Free movie weekend

Yeah I have gold, think I'll register for the month trial on Netflix, cheers.

 

I'm trying to activate my Netflix account on my Xbox

Netflix and gold memberships are two different things. Even if you have a gold membership you still need to buy a netflix membership to access netflix.

 

They have been doing it for several years and its never done their business any harm.

 

OP has a point though Owen, hiding something like Netflix behind a paywall is wrong. Gold comes with many benefits, the key benefit being multiplayer / online gaming. There are many people who don't enjoy online gaming yet are subscribed to Netflix, those
people MAY feel forced into paying a sub fee for gold just to access the content they want on the big screen in their house. It doesn't hurt MS's business though, you're correct about that.

 

The gold pay wall could be dropped in the future for apps according to the new guy in charge of Xbox Phil Spencer. But all it is talk at the moment and was commented on a twitter post. Whether when and if it happens is the question.

 

^^ True that!

OP, in the meantime, you can (as you put it) " watch it through any other device for free."

 

"They have been doing it for several years and its never done their business any harm."

I beg to differ. The paywall is one of the reasons an X1 is the only current gen console that's not sitting in my living room, and I'm obviously not the only one who's annoyed that it's required for free apps that MS has nothing to do with. If it wasn't
doing their business any harm then they wouldn't be discussing removing the paywall right now.

 

You do not pay microsoft to be able to watch netflix. As you said you can watch it anywhere for free (Aside from the netflix fee of course). You buy gold for the ability to connect your console to the internet. The netflix app needs internet, just like every
other internet connected app.

 

^ Not true. You can be connected to the internet and consequently xbox live via your console without a gold membership. Most of the features, however, are locked behind a paywall. With silver you can still get online.

 

@M D4w9 - That's not how things work, at all. You can connect to the internet and LIVE servers without being gold, you just can't use any of the apps. You pay your ISP for your internet service and MS has absolutely nothing to do with that. When you connect
to Netflix from your Xbox, MS does not do anything to enhance that experience or really have anything to do with it at all. It's no different than connecting to Netflix from a Roku, PS3, Blu-Ray player, or any other device other than the fact that MS is the
only one to lock their apps behind a paywall.

 

Hey there

I would like to see a link to this Twitter post from this person. I'm just sceptical on information like this, with no actual source for passing users

 

If you are willing to go find the forum post in the Xbox One Discussion be my guest. It links to the Forbes article and the twitter link. Shouldn't be hard to find as it was a popular post. Id provide a link but I am on my mobile phone.

 

Same, I use my Mobile when using forums

 

I understand it may be annoying, but why is it that people complain about a one time a year $60 fee? I get that it requires Gold to watch netflix, even use YouTube and any other app/service etc. But why is it such a problem to put down $60 a year, essentially
another game a year?

I understand it's extra money, but if you really want to watch neftlix on your xbox one, just spend that $60 fee, or better yet, scour the web for cheaper 12 month subscription cards. They still sell for $10 cheaper sometimes.

If you want to watch netflix, go with other devices. Not much else can really be done.