Microsoft, I shouldn't be paying for it.

Sorry guys, was going to publish "Nintendo its time for a change" this week, however I had to bring this up.

If you read my post last week, then you know that I decided to support the Xbox One this November.  While I'm still happy about my decision, I'm not too happy about Microsoft xbox live service.  You might be thinking "Why wouldn't you be happy about xbox live service?"  I'm going to tell you why.

Like many of your know Microsoft has always charged consumers to play games online.  This is nothing new.  On top of that, if consumers wanted to use apps like Netflix, they pay the online fee for access.  Does this sound right to you?  Why should a consumer pay $60 a year to have access to apps that they get free on everywhere else?  I understand paying $60 to play online games but for apps like Netflix or Hulu?  Not only is that crazy but outrageous.  With the Xbox One, Microsoft is even putting up more restrictions.  They wonder why their now console isn't doing that well.

Understand something, xbox live should be service that charges for online game play.  They shouldn't have a pay wall for app and devices.  Now that the Xbox One coming out in November, Microsoft will once again put a pay wall to dvr access.  Think about that for a second.................?  Microsoft is charging the consumer to have access to their own dvr device that they're paying over $500 for.  I mean really?  They want to charge people to upload game footage.  Isn't that already free?  Head over to youtube and there is countless videos of gameplay.  Consumers can't just freely record gameplay on their Xbox One, they have to pay $60 a year to access it.  This is not like the DVR consumers pay per month with their cable or satellite provider.  When a consumer orders cable or satellite with dvr service, they don't own the device but are renting it.  At no point do they own the device in less they buy a third party DVR.  But not with the Xbox One.  Not only are Microsoft forcing consumers to buy the device but also forcing the them to pay $60 a year to use it.

Secondly, consumers who buy the Xbox One don't get to use apps on their device for free.  Microsoft has also tied apps to xbox live, whereas Sony PSN doesn't.  Just imagine you wanting to use your Xbox One device to watch Netflix, Hulu, Youtube or whatever, you don't have xbox live.  Sorry but you can't use these apps since you didn't pay $60 for access.  Furthermore, it also includes internet explorer.  Huh?  I know. Surfing the web on your Xbox One, now cost you $60 a year.  Ask yourself this, is Microsoft a ISP?  No. For xbox live to even work, you need to have ISP first or xbox live can't even function.  Its not like if you decide not to pay the ISP bill or cancel it, you can still use xbox live.  Is this starting to ring in yet?  Think about all of the other devices your own.  You didn't have to pay to use apps like internet explorer or Netflix.  Its not like Microsoft owns or run apps like Hulu, Youtube or anything else.  What makes this even crazier is Microsoft other devices doesn't require a fee to use the same apps.  They owns Skype and that app is free to use on any other devices including Microsoft products outside Xbox One.

How is this consumer friendly again?  Microsoft keeps talking about "all in one"  however the "all in one" if you pay $60 a year.  This sounds more like "all for nothing".  Microsoft competition Sony offers the same services almost free outside playing online and uploading multi-player content.  Sony evens allows consumers to upload single player content for free.  Why isn't Microsoft doing offering this?  I can't understand why charge for service the consumers have used freely forever.  Does this really come down to greed?  I mean really?

I can't understand why xbox gaming community would openly support this.  They must know this is as anti consumer as it gets.  Last time Microsoft tried crap like this, they almost lost the next gen before launch day.  They might loose it again if this isn't fix.  This is fixable, but the question is will Microsoft fix it?  I'm guessing not but I'm hoping the xbox community will make enough stink about this before launch day to get this changed.  Even if Microsoft fixes this, it should be a silent fix and not a big announcement.  Microsoft claims to listen to feedback so lets hope the community will force them to.

Lastly, Microsoft has no room to error.  In fact, they should be bending over backwards in every way to win back the consumers like me who they tried to screw over.  While I'm not going to change my pre-order to ps4, I am however thinking about my options.  I hope if you are considering or buying the Xbox One, you think about this long term.  This is one of the main reason I stop supporting the xbox 360 years ago because of stuff like this.

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