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Microsoft Announces Xbox All Access (thurrott.com)

Posted by msmash on from the subscription-model,-ftw dept.

Microsoft today confirmed the rumors: Xbox All Access is a new subscription offering that ties a console to Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for two years. From a report: "For no upfront cost and one low monthly price for 24 months, Xbox All Access gets you a new Xbox One S or Xbox One X, access to more than 100 great games through Xbox Game Pass, and online multiplayer with Xbox Live Gold," Microsoft's Bogdan Bilan explains. "That's more than 100 all-you-can-play games -- including highly-anticipated new Xbox One exclusives the day they're released, plus more games added all the time on the fastest, most reliable gaming network and an Xbox One console." As previously reported, Xbox All Access is available only in the United States and will cost $22 or $35 per month, depending on whether you choose an Xbox One S or Xbox One X console.

53 comments

  1. Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT?

    1. Re:Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Luthair · · Score: 1

      You own at the end. I found this summary very confusing - to me it sounded like just bundling game pass & gold.

    2. Re:Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by the_skywise · · Score: 1

      Same here - didn't realize this INCLUDES the box and was trying to figure out why I would pay more for the same game subscriptions on an X vs an S

    3. Re:Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      You'll own the console at the end.

      The subscriptions, if purchased in the largest block available for each, will cost $360 for two years.
      - 12 month Xbox Live subscription: $60 x2 = $120
      - 6 month Xbox Game Pass subscription: $60 x4 = $240

      The Xbox One X costs $488 new right now. This works out to $848, versus an Xbox All Access subscription total of $840.
      The Xbox One S costs $257 right now. This works out to $617, versus the All Access total of $528.

      That's if you're paying all up front for everything, though, which defeats the purpose of this model in the first place.

      If you're paying monthly for your subscriptions, you're looking at $10/month each for Live and Game Pass. That's $480 for two years plus the up-front cost of the console.

      Obviously paying up-front will cost less, and you can get occasional deals for your 12 month and 6 month subscriptions if you have the up-front cash to go that route. That puts the cost of the Xbox One X a little bit better than All Access, but the Xbox One S is still a deal without any of the hassle. Casual gamers, rejoice.

      If you're going month-to-month on this, you're going to get hurt. The All Access with the One X costs $840 (that figure doesn't change, yay easy math!) versus $968 if you buy the console up front and then go monthly for your subscriptions. If you put the console on a credit card and pay the minimum, add your interest costs here. You'll lose $128 and come out with the same amount of ownership at the end.

      The month-to-month One S is going to cost $737, costing you an extra $209 over All Access. Again, add interest fees if you buy the console on credit to reduce up-front cost.

      So what does this all mean? If you want an Xbox One S, just sign up for All Access. It's cheaper no matter what route you go, as long as you intend to use both subscriptions.If you want the Xbox One X, and have the cash up front, go ahead and buy your setup. You'll save about $50 by getting your subscriptions on sale.

      Whatever you do, don't pay monthly for either Live or Game Pass. You're paying AT LEAST double for Live this way. Watch out for Microsoft automatically adding auto-renew to your account for these subscriptions. They'll renew at the monthly rate, not whatever pass you bought.

    4. Re: Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Even if you rented you'd rent better hardware.

    5. Re:Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Read the fucking article maybe?

    6. Re: Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, I believe they already said that they did not realize the hardware was included.

    7. Re:Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you factor in the cost of 100 games at $70-$80 each?

    8. Re: Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The games are factored into the subscription price already.. they are comparing the exact same subscriptions.

    9. Re:Do you own the Xbox? or rent? also EFT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Game rentals don't cost $70-80 each.

  2. Does it include the original Tetris? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just too many FPS these days. Need something without violence these days.

    1. Re:Does it include the original Tetris? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Real life FPS in Jacksonville over the weekend. A few people got zeroed.

    2. Re:Does it include the original Tetris? by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      > Need something without violence these days.

      I hear Flower and Journey is available on PS3 & PS4. =P

      /me ducks

      Seriously though aren't there any puzzle games on the Xbone? Have you played The Witness ?

      --
      Microsoft Windows, noun: A 64-bit compilation of 32 bit extensions and a graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor written by a 2 bit company that can't stand 1 bit of competition with 0 bit of understanding good UI.

    3. Re: Does it include the original Tetris? by aliquis · · Score: 1

      I got tricky towers in a bundle. Check it out.

  3. Learning from Telecom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone using the service for 15.43 months will officially be paying more than the cost of the device while not owning their device. Awesome.

    I wonder what the fine print for damaged units etc will look like.

    Definitely a page out of the cell carrier playbook.

    1. Re:Learning from Telecom by devslash0 · · Score: 1

      Plus they'll have an excuse to bombard you with targeted ads and have absolute control as to what you can and cannot do with the device. Perhaps you'll only be allowed to play blue-ray films or run 3rd-party games if you upgrade to a higher plan.

    2. Re:Learning from Telecom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Plus they'll have an excuse to bombard you with targeted ads and have absolute control as to what you can and cannot do with the device

      Which is precisely why when my XBox 360 started showing ads it got disconnected from the network, and will never be connected again.

      It's also why I have no interest in the newer generations of XBox.

      Sorry, I don't play on-line, I don't want any of the on-line features, and if you won't sell me a video game which can be played purely as a disconnected console, then I don't want it.

      I'll probably look at buying a spare XBox 360, but in general the requirement for a connected video game is a deal breaker for me.

      I may even try to find one of those Nintendo Classic things.

      As a casual gamer, a console which wants to show me ads and integrate all of the social media shit isn't something I give a damn about. Always connected means they'll make whatever changes they want, and they'll keep trying to monetise my gaming. No thanks.

    3. Re:Learning from Telecom by DarkRookie · · Score: 1

      They do this anyways.
      Compare the screen real estate for the game you have in the drive vs the ads.

      --
      The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
    4. Re:Learning from Telecom by DarkRookie · · Score: 1

      You are going to need a PS2 and/or a NGC to remove the ads.
      360 will show them regardless of internet connection. Or at least mine did

      --
      The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
    5. Re: Learning from Telecom by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Nes and snes classic are available here in Sweden.

      Hardware-wise they are the same thing but you get longer cables and two cobtrollers with the snes/famicon plus fewer but more advanced games.

      You can flash them to get the other environment and add more games or a USB stick.

      Value for money seem to be snes if you want two controllers anyway.

  4. the rent to own places will not like this but it w by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    the rent to own places will not like this but it works for cell phones

  5. How to Make Money on Whatsapp by SunilKumarGhaswan · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Make Money on Whatsapp

  6. Nothing says "buy new hardware" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Than charging a huge premium for what is fundamentally the same subscription service

  7. Wait until..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just like MS music service, one day, MS will shut this down. Then the 'box' is completely useless.

  8. Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by nimbius · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    a new subscription offering that ties a console to Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for two years.

    who honestly cares. when the technology "ties a console" to anything, its pretty much dead on arrival. these game passes work for users either too lazy or too stubborn to switch to PC gaming, but you arent doing anything to increase long term longevity of the console.

    a new Xbox One S or Xbox One X

    so, you just bought a subscription to the latest call of dootle doo.

    access to more than 100 great games through Xbox Game Pass

    Pack it up and get off the stage. Steam has more than fifteen thousand titles, and in the next 6-12 month, Nova will run the vast majority of them on Linux as well.

    and online multiplayer with Xbox Live Gold

    almost every game that can, offers online multiplayer with VAC protection through Steam without a subscription. this is just beating the corpse of Ayn Rand.

    In other words, consoles are circling the drain so fast its starting to look like the nineties blockbuster rental gaming scene.

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
    1. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by Luthair · · Score: 3, Interesting

      almost every game that can, offers online multiplayer with VAC protection through Steam without a subscription. this is just beating the corpse of Ayn Rand. In other words, consoles are circling the drain so fast its starting to look like the nineties blockbuster rental gaming scene.

      As someone who plays both I think you're ignoring the selling points of consoles. They're simple, have an expected lifespan and thanks to significant price gouging by Intel & nvidia are a lot less expensive than PCs even accounting for Gold/PSN. Further given nvidia's recent announcement it looks like GPUs are staged to get even more expensive this generation.

    2. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by amorsen · · Score: 1

      In other words, consoles are circling the drain so fast its starting to look like the nineties blockbuster rental gaming scene.

      I have switched TO console gaming. It is so much easier to not have to check compatibility or deal with installations or try to get controllers working for a PC. So far it has been a very pleasant change. The games I play have mostly come in for "free" through PS Plus.

      Casual games work on the phone, of course, including World of Tanks Blitz. PC is great for single-player strategy of course, but I have actually been impressed by XCom-2 for the PS4.

      --
      Finally! A year of moderation! Ready for 2019?
    3. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by tepples · · Score: 1

      True, consoles are easier for many, especially those happy with vanilla AAA games. But on consoles, it's a lot harder to install and use enthusiast-maintained mods that fix a game's user interface annoyances. And consoles tend to get smaller-budget games later than PC if at all.

    4. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Those 'were' selling points. The console you're describing is going the way of the dinosaur.

      Now they require always on internet and monthly subscriptions. It's no longer simple or cheap. Not when you can play games on your phone for pennies.

    5. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by Luthair · · Score: 2

      Those 'were' selling points. The console you're describing is going the way of the dinosaur.

      They haven't so far

      Now they require always on internet and monthly subscriptions. It's no longer simple or cheap.

      Not the case, and in fact PCs are far worse for that - you can still buy discs of console games while that is now a rarity for PC (though day-1 patches render discs limited). I have never subscribed to any of the console networking myself.

      Not when you can play games on your phone for pennies.

      Phone games are the worst for predatory pricing where its easy to spend more than the cost of an AAA game, but the reality is that gamers PC or console aren't typically users of phone games.

    6. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those 'were' selling points. The console you're describing is going the way of the dinosaur.

      They haven't so far

      Now they require always on internet and monthly subscriptions. It's no longer simple or cheap.

      Not the case, and in fact PCs are far worse for that - you can still buy discs of console games while that is now a rarity for PC (though day-1 patches render discs limited). I have never subscribed to any of the console networking myself.

      Not when you can play games on your phone for pennies.

      Phone games are the worst for predatory pricing where its easy to spend more than the cost of an AAA game, but the reality is that gamers PC or console aren't typically users of phone games.

      If you haven't subscribed to Gold or PSN you're not really deep enough into console gaming to compare the two experiences. My guess is its the same with PC gaming. Consoles have been transitioning to mid-range black box PCs for a while now. Every new generation gets closer and that trend seems strong. The Xbox One is running Windows 10. I have all the current gen consoles and a high end gaming PC. I find modern consoles and a modern gaming PC to have very similar user experiences except the PC has better graphics, more flexibility, and more game options but at a higher price tag.

    7. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by Luthair · · Score: 1

      If you haven't subscribed to Gold or PSN you're not really deep enough into console gaming to compare the two experiences.

      Or just maybe I play single player games? I did a lot of multiplayer gaming over the years and hit a point where I didn't want to bother with that anymore.

      Consoles have been transitioning to mid-range black box PCs for a while now. Every new generation gets closer and that trend seems strong. The Xbox One is running Windows 10. I have all the current gen consoles and a high end gaming PC. I find modern consoles and a modern gaming PC to have very similar user experiences except the PC has better graphics, more flexibility, and more game options but at a higher price tag.

      Not entirely sure how the architecture of a console is particularly relevant - its a question of what technical knowledge does the user need to know to use/buy the device (is it simple) and the performance / dollar. metric.

    8. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Consoles are plug-and-play. That is a big selling point.

      Consoles are more-or-less locked at a performance spec that will become obsolete within a year. However, they come with the assurance of a content ecosystem with a vested interest in serving that spec for 2-3 years. That is a big selling point.

    9. Re:Is anyone steering the ship at microsoft? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      PC. Online multiplayer protection.

      LOLS!

  9. I subscribe to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1- Utilities
    2- Internet

    Nothing else.

  10. Re:the rent to own places will not like this but i by DarkRookie · · Score: 1

    Not really. You still end up paying a lot more for a phone paying it over contract.
    But people want the newest shiniest phone that somehow cost $800.

    --
    The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
  11. any like the cable co want full price for firedamg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    any like the cable co want full price for an new unit for fire damaged 4-5 year old boxes.

  12. I don't understand why you would rent when you can by Revek · · Score: 0

    Buy. You buy a game on the xbox and then you have to rent the right to play it. Stupid.

  13. Fuck You Microsoft by SirAstral · · Score: 0

    I remember when I had an XBOX subscription.

    Guess what Microsoft decided to when it got hacked? They entirely cut off access for almost 2 fucking months straight!

    I will never willingly purchase another Microsoft product ever again.

    1. Re:Fuck You Microsoft by silverkniveshotmail. · · Score: 1

      Wasn't that Sony? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    2. Re:Fuck You Microsoft by Binestar · · Score: 1

      I remember when I had an XBOX subscription.
      Guess what Microsoft decided to when it got hacked? They entirely cut off access for almost 2 fucking months straight!
      I will never willingly purchase another Microsoft product ever again.

      *CITATION NEEDED.
      In 2011 the PSN (Playstation Network) was cracked and was down for 23 days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
      The longest outage for Xbox Live wasn't a complete outage, but rather a lack of capacity over the 2007-2008 holiday season which had connectivity issues for a period of 13 days.
      But Xbox live has never been down for "2 fucking months straight!"

      --
      Do you Gentoo!?
    3. Re:Fuck You Microsoft by SirAstral · · Score: 1

      I guess I should have clarified, I am talking about my subscription/account getting hacked.

      Microsoft decided the punishing me was the resolution to the problem. I could not play any games that required xbox live except as a guest, so I decided that Microsoft does not give enough of a shit to care, so around that time I decide I will no longer be buying any more consoles and just stick to playing PC games. Larger library and less trouble over all.

    4. Re:Fuck You Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess I should have clarified, I am talking about my subscription/account getting hacked.

      Microsoft decided the punishing me was the resolution to the problem. I could not play any games that required xbox live except as a guest, so I decided that Microsoft does not give enough of a shit to care, so around that time I decide I will no longer be buying any more consoles and just stick to playing PC games. Larger library and less trouble over all.

      Yes you very much should have clarified.

      You are upset that Microsoft gave the exact amount of shit to care as you did in picking a good password and not giving it out to anyone.

      Perhaps you learned your lesson and give more of a shit about your accounts now with steam?
      I'd hope so, but as you didn't clarify the situation and blamed it on Microsoft being down and unavailable to the world, you once again show you don't give a shit so shouldn't have any problem with us doing the same and assuming the worst case situation, such as your password being your first name or 12345 or something.

    5. Re:Fuck You Microsoft by SirAstral · · Score: 1

      "Yes you very much should have clarified."

      I know right? I was talking about my subscription but everyone assumed "entire MS network". I keep forgetting that folks like you are so stupid that you read one thing and think something else entirely. I have to S P E L L I T out so that it is ELI5 quality verbiage.

      But you can be hostile as you want, Mr Butthurt!

  14. What I really would prefer by bobstreo · · Score: 1

    is a $22 a month Xbox Video service.

    Including NetFlix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and some other streaming solutions, like CBS, TNT...

  15. is this right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Xbox all access for 2 years gives:
    -xbox live membership
    -xbox game pass
    -xbox one s
    $528 total over 2 years

    VS

    $260ish for xbox one s
    $240 for 2 years xbox game pass
    $120 for 2 years xbox live membership
    $620 total over 2 years

    It's actually cheaper to do this xbox all access for "Xbox one s". You could maybe get a lower storage version, a refurbished version, or wait until price drops more (or account for price drop in the future of the console) to make up this difference in cost, but even then it doesn't seem bad. Lower total cost and you are paying for it over 2 years so it's not a huge chunk out of your wallet, this doesn't make sense because usually rent-to-own stuff ends up costing you way more in the end, I don't understand it...

  16. I'll pay you with a Money All Access subscription! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Get AC's Money All Access now, and get access to copies of an many $100 bills of money as you want! For only a single real $100 a month!*
    Give us your money that you worked hard for, while we only give you copies, pretending they are valuable because "we worked hard for those (original) $100 bills, you pirates!".
    What previously used to be only possible with "media" is now possible with money too! Get it, while artificially limited stocks of worthless imaginary property last!

    ___
    * If you stop paying, you lose all access to use the false money!

  17. Try Quake 3 Defrag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2hpaKphOtI
    Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wK1ipL_EtY

    The graphics are still fine, thanks to pre-rendering and post-processing on modern engines.

    It is definitely "Nintendo hard" or beyond, though.

    1. Re:Try Quake 3 Defrag by DarkRookie · · Score: 1

      It is definitely "Nintendo hard" or beyond, though.

      AKA we couldn't think of a decent gameplay mechanic and are going to kill you instead.

      --
      The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
  18. Tetris Ultimate by tepples · · Score: 1

    Tetris Ultimate for Xbox One is only $10. Or by "original", did you mean the pre-infinite spin version?

  19. Re:the rent to own places will not like this but i by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not really. You still end up paying a lot more for a phone paying it over contract.

    It's an xbox, not a phone, but even then assuming both that you are starting from nothing and don't already own one, and that you want the live gold subscription, the low end package here actually does look to end up cheaper.

    Buying the S console (new of course), a live gold subscription, and a game pass subscription, with the two subscriptions multiplied by two for comparison purposes, is $660.

    $22/month for 24 months is $528.

    The xbox one X package doesn't look nearly as attractive however.

    $35/month for 24 months is $840, which is $312 more than the lower package.
    Yet an xbox one X is only $200 more than the xbox one S
    So here you do pay more to rent it.

  20. Re: I'll pay you with a Money All Access subscript by aliquis · · Score: 1

    Lots of people pay for the entertainment/creativity rather than token.

  21. Re:the rent to own places will not like this but i by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You still end up paying a lot more for a phone paying it over contract.

    That probably depends on the carrier. For example, T-Mobile you end up paying the exact same amount for all phones except one, the iPhone 8, which costs a whopping 9 cents more than buying it outright.