Damn it Microsoft you are the freaking strongest computer company in the world, its not hard to make it free if Sony can.

If MS has any brains at all and would like to continue to dominate PSN they won't do this. They are already charging for something PS3 users are getting for free (you can all wine about the quality of one over the other amongst yourselves, thats not the point.) why would they up the price while PSN is still free? Makes no sense at all.

I disagree. I think slowly as Sony makes PSN more and more feature parity with Xbox Live, MS will be forced to make "multiplayer" apart of the Silver line. Netflix and all the other stuff will be gold service.

THE WII HD IS COMING! THE WII HD IS COMING! THE WII HD IS COMING!

@ covah
And it will probably have free online.

ehem, Live only "dominates" PSN in Amurka. Amurka is not the world. It's pretty even pegged these days across Europe and PS3 takes the piss out of the 360 in Asia.

I'm not surprised by this at all, it's the Amurkin way!

What does surprise me however, is how it's only really the Amurkins that support the 360 so hard, i mean with all the problems, failures and costs, most of the rest of the world has realised that you're better off buying a PS3, yet the Amurkins simply keep buying failbox's? i mean what's that all about? Are you guys still pissy about the whole WW2 thing, don't want to buy an amazing Jap product over a shitty Yank product?

All I know is that having both a 360 and a PS3, I buy every single multiplayer game for my PS3 right now.
As more and more people get both systems the only way I can see Microsoft being able to compete is either dropping multiplayer into Silver as somebody else suggested, getting more exclusive multiplayer games, or if Sony ever charges for PSN...

I would rather play online with 360. But even at the current price I don't have the time to take full advantage for Live to justify the price. So I am content to settle for playing PS3 online to satisfy my multiplayer needs. Even if it is slightly inferior. Basically, there is one less game I can buy a year if I get Live for a year.

"Blarg. I already look at the cost of Xbox Live as a bill, just like my utilities or phone bill."

So overly dramatic. That $4.10 a month is really something that needs to go on a household budget.

@SC

Well, I'm Canadian and I certainly have never heard of this place called "Amurka". But yeah you are correct, XBL doesn't dominate everywhere but PSN certainly isn't ether which actually plays to my point even better... why would MS raise the price on something people can get from PSN for free? (again, debate the quality of one over the other till your blue in the face...but it's not the point) I doubt this will happen.

I can't see how people are still buying 360s. A 360 120gb for 300 USD (most probably defective), with additional 50 USD every year. Or a PS3 slim 120gb dor 300 USD, with a Blu-Ray player.

So, what do you choose Mr Gamer - do you want to pay 50 USD every year, or do you want a free Blu-Ray player, hm?

I don't agree with him. Assuming PSN remains a free service I don't see Microsoft being able to get away with it, regardless of whether or not they want to.

im holding onto my Live sub basically for netflix, so if it goes up a cent, i'll just fallback to using Playon for it like i do with my original xbox in my bedroom. they should pay *me* to play online with those Live douchebags

If it goes up to $100, then can't me out.

Looks like its time to start saving for a PS3...

Enough is enough with this guy already!!! This is nothing but speculation meant to rile people up. Gaming doesn't need shock-jocks like Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh.

@SC

So...what's with the America hate? America isn't that bad a place.
Oooh..you hate America because that's where the Xbox comes from and sells best. Gotcha. Guilty by association and all that. Whatever.

I think Pachter is off on this one; I have a feeling it'll drop to free with Natel's release. Optimistic? Yeah, but it would make sense.

I'm pretty sure this will happen. I don't believe the entry cost of a gold membership will change. $50 a year has done MS well. I think the price hike will be distributed through multiple channels. Price hike's in new Arcade games or DLC seems more rational. Keeping the Games on Demand high so that isolated regions that can't get these games have to shill out more. Pushes for bigger games on the hard drives so that gamers will have to buy bigger hard drives. MS is trying to get money in every little way possible without alienating customers.

The only thing really limiting MS right now with an average consumer is the Moon Bucks. It was a nice try to get people to think they are spending $8 when they are spending $10, but its not working with having to buy it in bulk. I have had 900 points on my hard drive for half a year and instead of buying games I am weighing out what I can and should buy so I don't have to buy another card. Expanding to Amazon helped this, but it should be removed completely for actual real dollars.

also, people need to get off Pachter's back. He's an industry analyst and so its his job to make guesses (whether right or wrong) on the state of the industry. Its not like he's Aaron Greenberg standing up there saying XBL will get an increase. He stimulates discussion in this industry and that's a good thing.

If they did increase it to $100 a year, I would not pay. Simple as that.

knew? no. Expected? hahahahahaha, but of course.

Seriously? They aren't going to increase the price, shut up. Microsoft doesn't alienate their fanbase like Sony does. These 'analysts' need to stop thinking they can predict the future. Especially considering they're almost never right.

My hatred for Amurka is nothing to with games consoles, it's more about the general stupidity and closed mindedness. Live dominates in Amurka, so you consider it a global domination!

I have the same feelings for people in London, it's like the world revolves around your little part of it.

Only yanks are stupid enough to keep buying 360's at such a rate! But that just happens to fit in with my general opinion of your nationality as a whole.

Brits are generally hooligan scumbags.

Yanks are generally fat retards.

It.s a common generalization.

If this happens I'm selling my 360 and sticking with PC gaming.

It's not good enough value at the moment as it is.