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The Verge reports that Microsoft will release a set-top box next year alongside its next generation Xbox. The “Xbox TV” will deliver the popular Xbox Live streaming entertainment services currently available on the Xbox as well as some basic gaming. In other words, it’ll bring you Netflix and Angry Birds but not Call of Duty.
Reports that Microsoft has been developing a set-top box have been circulating for at least a year. We still don’t know much about the device except that it will run a Windows 8 based OS and have a quick booting chipset. The new streaming-media box, like the new Xbox, is expected before the holidays next year.
Now the big question is, if this rumoured device does exist, will we still have to pay for Xbox Live Gold? We certainly hope not. Other set-top boxes don’t require paid subscriptions, and Microsoft would be insane to. [The Verge]
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Having to pay for xbox live would kill this device for me. Otherwise I’m really interested if it has all the catch up services like the xbox, I don’t think any other set-top has that yet.
Xbox live could work IF the box was viciously cheap (£10-£20). Price would be fairly balanced at that level.
I always hated the idea of having to pay for xbox live when the playstation or pc alternatives were free, that’s why I never got it.
Maybe they’ll introduce a subscription model, akin to what they’re trying atm with the 360. Regardless, I don’t think the UK market is well suited to this sort of tech. We’re massively dependent on services we’re already tied into (Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision) which offer robust basic features that everybody wants (PVR, fancy EPGs etc) – but perhaps more importantly, they’re easily available with internet and call packages.
If Microsoft produce an Xbox that can act as an alternative to a Media Center PC – I’m in. Those leaked ‘Xbox 720′ documents from a few months back certainly suggested that they were heading in that direction, and it would explain why Media Center is being slowly ignored to death.
Sadly, Microsoft also have a US-centric view of things, and often proudly launch media stuff that then doesn’t work in the UK. So what chance this thing will support FreeView or satellite?
Paul Thurrott has just posted a link that shows just how badly MS does on international roll-outs of its content.
..aaand here’s the link.
http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/availability-matrix-shows-limits-microsoft-media-ecosystem
Hey, where’s the ‘Edit’ button…