Microsoft nabbed an exclusive while we weren’t looking. According to the patch notes for the recent dashboard update, Netflix Watch Instantly is an Xbox 360 console exclusive, available only to Xbox LIVE subscribers and Netflix members. It’s written in no uncertain terms, so forget about those surveys that may have pointed towards a PlayStation 3 or Wii version of the popular service.
“This exclusive partnership offers you the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via Xbox 360,” the notes read. “Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience, available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix unlimited plan subscribers**, at no additional cost.”
Note the asterisks are in an icky place where you learn about the cost of Netflix, not where it asks “exclusive partnership” or “only game console.”
Look at it this way, PS3 and Wii owners: the coolest thing on Netflix Watch Instantly is Lost, and while that sounds totally rad, it isn't. Netflix quits offering full seasons after the first. Kind of makes the service pointless when you have to rent discs to supplement what is supposedly offered.
[via Engadget]
[Update: I have been advised that this is not news. Apparently, it's not news because Microsoft has used this wording before in a press release. Also, Netflix has echoed in at least one interview. Read the full story about how not news this is over at Crispy Gamer. So, rejoice. There's totally still a chance you can watch Netflix on your Wii! You'll just need an install disc, an SD card, the Motion Plus, an component HD adapter and a boomerang.]
Contest:
12:00 PM on 08.11.2009
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I hate how the PS3 and the 360 are trying to replace everything, what ever happened to just playing games on a gaming console? What's next, a 360 toaster?
Also, The Office on instant streaming is good. I think they still have up to the 4th season, right?
You know, since the streaming bit comes with every Netflix subscription.
Stoops.
You have to own the REAL Netflix in order to use the service.
I love having Netflix on my 360. It's nice to watch a movie when you're not in the mood to play a game.
Not a big deal, but your info is bad on Lost. They do offer the complete seasons for seasons 1-4 for instand viewing...in fact, my wife and I are going through the seasons right now. The only thing they don't offer for instant viewing is the extra content crap, which I couldn't care less about.
The only bad thing about instant viewing right now is the sometimes fuzzy quality. Once they fix that issue (which is probably a few years off) then instant viewing will pawn all.
The Karate Kid
Unforgiven
Dan in Real Life
South Park
Everest: Beyond the Limit
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Groundhog Day
Step Brothers
21
March of the Penguins
Miracle at St. Anna
The Hunt for Red October
Letters from Iwo Jima
Be jealous PS3 and Wii
You just have to pay for an Xbox Live Gold subscription, and a Netflix subscription. But OTHER THAN ALL THAT, there's no additional cost... lol
When you consider that Xbox owners get gold to play online and not Netflix, it's really just an added bonus. Then when you consider that, in my opinion, Netflix is a better deal than going through Blockbuster, whether in the store or online, it's really more of a nice convenience. But that's just the way I look at it.
Oh, and I forgot to mention Shawshank Redemption is also instant...love that movie.
Let The Right One In
Casablanca
This Is England
On The Waterfront
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Braveheart
Eraserhead
The Elephant Man
Man on Wire
Clear and Present Danger
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Not bad for $8.99 a month.
You have no idea how Netflix on the XBox works, do you? If you're a Live Gold member and have a Netflix account, you can activate your 360 as a Netflix streaming device. You don't pay anything extra for it, and it's functionally similar to how the Roku box works.
@ Killah2010
Sure you can! No wait, your PS3 browser doesn't support the Silverlight plug-ins. But you can totally "get" Netflix by logging in to your account via your PS3 and ordering movies!
I wish it supported it. I'd rather use my PS3 to stream video, as I'm afraid that leaving my damned 360 on for too long will fry the thing. It's an irrational fear perhaps, but eh, I aint taking chances...
seriously, its the best feature for my xbox... and if im bored, lets not forget its still a gaming system.
I'm very pleased that xbox is branching out to make me more of a couch potato. I even got my girlfriend to start using Netflix instead of playing Puzzle Fighter all the time.
I'm not saying it's a bad deal. Quite the contrary. I just think it's funny how they word it to sound like a free feature when you do, in fact, have to pay not one, but two ongoing subscription fees to use it at all.
Yea, cool...I know what you're saying. I'm just a Netflix fanboy now ;)
I LOVE being able to watch tons of different stuff instantly now.
Can you imagine a time before Netflix and DVR? Oh...the horror. How did the human race survive?
But anyway, there's software out there you can buy that'll stream netflix from your PC to you PS3/Xbox/Wii, so it isn't like this exclusive is very exclusive at all.
@Dtoid - FYI, When I loaded this page, an AD (for JCPenney's) in the upper-right corner of the page tried to open up a malicious PDF file.. I don't know how, or why, but it did. :(