Netflix NXE activation seems to be down for some [updated]

by Justin McElroy { Nov 19th 2008 at 9:30AM }

Hey gang, we're getting a lot of reports from people not able to activate their NXE-enabled 360s with their Netflix accounts. It's especially disappointing considering that's the feature a lot of you were most excited about.

We don't have any additional guidance for you, except to say that others are in the same boat, and we're hoping Netflix and Microsoft will have it all figured out soon. We've put a line out to both, we'll let you know when we hear back.

[Update: The Major says everything should be working fine now.]

Tags: netflix, nxe

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

StealyFracker @ Nov 19th 2008 9:36AM

I was disappointed this morning when I wasn't able to activate my NetFlix account, but I am glad to see I am not the only one. I hope they have this fixed by the time I get home tonight. I want some HD streaming and I want it now!

Jared @ Nov 19th 2008 10:26AM

Just keep trying and it will hopefully work. I had the same issue, but was finally able to get through after just a few attempts. I simply clicked on the generate new code option in the NXE each time, then waited a few seconds, and entered in to the netflix website and it worked on the 10th try or so.

Mike @ Nov 19th 2008 9:37AM

I see Ghostbusters in that screen grab - that's a no no. Sony is likely to pull licensing support for this post.

kastonie @ Nov 19th 2008 10:46AM

man.....the first 5 movies i wanted to add to my instant queue were sony movies...i was bummed to hear about sony being a bitch and not letting us watch their movies on the 360....

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Nov 19th 2008 12:02PM

"to hear about sony being a bitch and not letting us watch their movies on the 360...."

I know, it sucked not being able to play Gears of War 2 on my PS3. It's not a shining moment for Sony, but it's no more bitchy than this "exclusive" deal. Sony owns the content and doesn't want it displayed on the competition's console.

If your heart still burns with rage, then download the "PlayOn" client and run Sony movies through your 360 anyway. Or a via a media extender.

Meanwhile I'll contemplate the fact that no company involved smells like a rose, since the Netflix HD streaming is a contest won in a corporate deal rather than by competition in the marketplace.

Mike @ Nov 19th 2008 12:27PM

There's a difference between the exclusive games example,and what Sony did w/ netflix though.

See, when an exclusive game is produced, the decision to make it an exclusive is made before the product is ever released. It's INTENDED to be an exclusive.

Netflix streams movies to a variety of devices, including PC's, Xbox 360's, and several other set top boxes. The 360 could stream Sony movies as recently as two days ago, but now, on the release day of the NXE, it can't. Netflix had a licensing agreement all worked out w/ Sony to stream their movies to PC's and the various set top boxes they supported. My educated guess here is that Sony's law-mans found some loop hole in the contract that allowed for them to deny their movies to certain devices. It's low of Sony to do it, and it's low of Netflix to just roll over and take it. Netflix will lose customers over this (myself included) if they don't work it out so that the 360 is treated like any other streaming box.

PeacefulOutrage @ Nov 19th 2008 12:27PM

@borland502 (SDF Macross)

You completely miss the point. Netflix pays Sony to license the content, and the only streaming devices being excuded are xboxes. I was in on the preview, and my Netflix stuff was cool, but I haven't checked my queue today to notice any changes.

What the should do is if the NXE bumps up traffic, they could use that information to increase licensing fees. Anything else sounds like extortion, like when they threatened retailers to move Sega Dreamcast merchandise to the back of the store or they wouldn't sell to them.

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Nov 19th 2008 12:48PM

@Mike, et al.

"My educated guess here is that Sony's law-mans found some loop hole in the contract that allowed for them to deny their movies to certain devices"

Likely, you're right. And I can see why many regard it as petty; the act is certainly not the moral high road. But I doubt the moral high road would have bought them much anyway.

As some other speculated, it might be an attempt to provide leverage for a similar PS3 ability or it could simply be the desire not to have their content in a new HD streaming service on a competing device. The perception of being petty may be less than the benefit of the action. After all if everyone bitching about corporate dick moves actually cared long term we wouldn't have the digital market so fragmented in the first place.

Of course, all this sound a fury over the move is irrelevant since I doubt either Sony's business, or Microsoft's, will be affected.

Delgado @ Nov 19th 2008 1:17PM

People that comment here have terrible metaphors for what went down.

It is more akin to Microsoft not letting Sony license Windows because they're competitors in a totally different video game market.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 2:22PM

Delagdo

Actually your metaphor is completely wrong. Here is the metaphor that is 100% tits. It would be like MS not allowing it's Zune media player to play artist from Sony BMG. Netflix is to blame here as opposed to Colombia (Sony) pictures. They didn't secure the rights to stream the content over the 360. Period. The O/S comparison is completely backwards.

Dr. Steve @ Nov 19th 2008 9:41AM

I wonder if the code from my xbox this morning is still valid. I wrote it down so I could continue to try and punch it in at work all day until it works.

Jack Spicer @ Nov 19th 2008 9:42AM

Is it sufficient to have a Netflix account to get this? Or do you have to have both Netflix and an active Xbox Live Gold membership?

Mike @ Nov 19th 2008 9:45AM

you need both netflix and an xbl gold account

BananaBoat @ Nov 19th 2008 10:22AM

That's how Microsoft is paying Netflix I'm sure. Helping them handle the bandwidth costs anyway, at the very least.

If I didn't already pay for the gold service, I'd be kinda pissed. Since I do, I look at this as sort of a "value added" sort of thing. You can still stream netflix movies to your computer if you aren't an Xbox Live subscriber, so that's something atleast.

J @ Nov 19th 2008 9:43AM

I activated a netflix account in anticipation of NXE, so I was disappointed. I only spent about 20 minutes with the new interface, butI really enjoy it. I'm sure they'll get this fixed soon. You can't anticipate everything. e, make us whole again.

Jason Cline @ Nov 19th 2008 9:43AM

It should be working now...at least it did for me. I tried it first thing this morning (7:00AM) and it told me to try again in two hours. I just tried again and everything went through without a hitch. I hope everybody else has the same experience is I did. Netflix streaming killed the cable box today.

J @ Nov 19th 2008 9:44AM

You have to have a gold membership and a netflix account

Jack of All Trades @ Nov 19th 2008 9:47AM

You have to have both Live Gold and Netflix.

If I wasn't getting the internet via Comcast, I might tell them to take a hike.

Ryan T. @ Nov 19th 2008 9:47AM

When I tried to activate the account around 8AM EST, it told me the account wasn't able to be activated (there was no field to enter the code, and advised me to come back in two hours.

I just checked the activation link again and the field was there, so things seem to have cleared up. Folks just need to be a little patient. A few hours wait doesn't bug me near as much as Sony blocking their content.

Ben @ Nov 19th 2008 9:47AM

Microsoft has acknowledged the issue. Check the Xbox LIVE status page here:
http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/xboxstatus.aspx

Dirty @ Nov 19th 2008 9:49AM

I've had netflix for a few months and thought that I would get more use out of it with the NXE, but upon further evaluation I think it would be better to just upgrade my Gamefly account.

At least when I cancel my account and they ask why I can say because Columbia Pictures movies dont work with my Xbox.damn the man.

tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 19th 2008 9:55AM

There's problems with certain things as a whole this morning. For example right now the game marketplace isn't loading anything for me. I knew this update wasn't going to go out without problems with live. They never do :(

josh @ Nov 19th 2008 8:11PM

well the point is to play games right? lol.. so just chill till they fix everything. get back to work..

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 2:25PM

I thought only Sony had online issues. You know, because it's such a free POS service according to all the Live apoligist. Shit happens with any online service. It will be fixed shortly like they usually are.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:12PM

its called an complete overhaul of the xbox live experience + the online gamers.
there should be expected delays today from this.

i remember a few ps3 updates needing patches the next day, and some updates on ps3 even got scratched after damaging some consoles.
at least the update seems to have gone smooth with little issues that need a patch.
i couldnt believe that it only took me about 30 seconds to download the entire update.

Patrick @ Nov 19th 2008 9:56AM

I downloaded the update at about 3:30 AM PST, and it was 5:00 before I was able to activate Neflix. Anxiously, I tried it. I knew about Sony's childish diss, but was dismayed to see movies like Once Upon a Time in China (distributed by Columbia Tristar) and several other foreign films not available. I was also disappointed to see that the one catalogue movie I tried (Malcolm X) was presented in 4:3. What the hell? It's in widescreen on the DVD. But Planet B-boy worked just fine. I tell you, I don't think I'll be using this feature as much as I had hoped.

Maverick Saturn @ Nov 19th 2008 9:56AM

Still sorting mine :S

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 19th 2008 9:56AM

Had a problem with the netflix thing at first, but it's working now. I'm pretty satisfied with it and it's definitely worth the 8.99 a month I'm spending on a Netflix account.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 2:33PM

Ouch ... $108.00 annualy? As far as I know Gold is also required to make use of a pre-existing netflix account. So, that brings the annual cost of streaming movies on your 360 to around $160.00. I begrudgingly pay for Live on an annual basis but I am glad that Sony got off their collective asses and allowed the PS3's integrated web browser to support flash player 9. I'm not going to argue over quality but streaming any movie or tv show for free anytime of teh day or night works for me. Including new movies in theatres and current TV shows.

Before someone says it - this is different than using your PS360 as a media server for "backup" copies of movies or "legally" obtained downloads. This process circumvents the need to even download them or play your backed up copies.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:09PM

johnny- why are you trolling what other people consider a fair service at a fair price?

i pay $ 13.00 per month for my blockbuster movie pass- $ 156 per year to watch blu ray movies on my ps3..

my ps3 and hdtv were designed to play and view HD media formats, that is partly why i paid over $ 1500.00 for the pair.

it would be a waste of time to me to stream non HD media to my ps3 console to view on my hdtv. especially when that might not be legal.

u always feel that need to try and deter somebody from something they enjoy....

wow you have problem illegally streaming movies and tv to your console... just because they are not downloaded doesnt mean they are legal. new release movies are not legal to stream online.

now you are going to start about how $ 9 per month for netflix is a rip off...
geez give it a break.
millions of people enjoy netflix service. now some of them can bring that to their 360 console with instant streaming.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 5:27PM

Sk8

Again you need to understand words before you use them. Trolling is what you do. Learn to read kid. I just connected the dots and tabulated the annual expense.

Why are you trolling/stalking me? This obsession you have is going overboard, kid. Grow up already and quit following me. It's creepy.

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 5:43PM

Let me just clarify one more thing about the idiot parade on display yoby you sk8. Obviously your makking assumptions AGAIN - whats new.

When did I ever say that it was a bad deal or try to deter anyone from enjoying anything? That's something you decuced all on your own. I thought we went over this already. Your skills of deduction are not really that good so you should stay away from it because you always make yourself look like - yourself. Thats not a good thing either.

Let me clear up one last bid of idiocy and ASSumption you made. The act of downloading copywright protected material is 100% legal. The illegality comes in if you try to monetize, distribute and bootleg the material. You should actually make sure you have an understanding of something before you throw out accusations of illegal activity.

I already made it perfectly clear I wasn't going to argue about quality (you must have skipped that part -as usual) so your little diatribe and anecdotal evidence about where you spend your money is not important. If someone want's to pay for a netflix account and a Live gold account (annual around $160) thats their business. If I want to stream my movies for free who are you to say thats right or wrong?

You need to get a life sk8. It's very unbecoming of an alleged adult (if you are even 18 - I doubt it) to constantly troll another adults post's. Grow the fuck up, kid.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 19th 2008 5:53PM

obsession?
ha.
you reply to the same amount of my joystiq comments as i do yours.
so what do you mean?

you feel that when yo do something its ok and right.
just like when you pirate movies.
then when somebody pirates a game you play, you begin to cry.

why is it ouch to pay $ 9 per month to watch movies?
you are crazy. been to starbucks ever for that $ 5 coffee..

dont get mad because i called out your forum trolling.
you troll almost every 360 related forum on joystiq.
sorry im just calling you out. you feel the need to call me out.
goes both ways kid-o.

grow up?
hmm... i live on my own with my girlfriend, i have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 fish tanks, a career, a contractors license, hazardous materials specialty certification, i enjoy life, have a savings account, a home paid off, a 2 year college degree,
no thanks ill keep being a kid... lol..
i dont want to grow up.

dude SERIOUSLY there are times to be mature and grown up, however, a joystiq.com forum is not that place IMO.
taking my california state contractors license asbestos abatement certification exam tomorrow is more the setting where i am more mature or at work.

you have said before you love flamebait and always reply to it, and you have heard from me that i like to throw that out sometimes.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 19th 2008 6:05PM

streaming or downloading from p2p sites is illegal because you are still part of the distribution and bootlegging.

you are saying that downloading or pirating gears of war 2 is legal because they did not distribute, monetize, or bootleg the material?

get real. well at least in the united states where there are copyright laws. outside the us is another story.

trolling posts? you must forget what you do everyday.
you sure trolled my posts yesturday and you troll many 360 fans posts on joystiq.

everybody that disagrees with you is not under 18 and not mature... you need to get real.
maybe take a debate class in school or something.

johnny dont worry about my skills, intelligence, or life i am a-ok.
i am in a good financial position, i do not rely on anyone or my family anymore, i live with my girlfriend, i have many good pets, i have different skilled certifications to perform specialty contracting services in california. i own my company and home. i have savings accounts and cds. my 2004 dodge truck is paid off.

seriously johnny just worry about yourself and why you are at home with nothing to do today on a weekday.
why are you not at a career?
why do you care about what i am doing when i am doing fine in life?
(keep in mind im at work now, just on breaks and slow time)

obviously there is something wrong in your life, whether financially, relationship wise, or just goal wise.....

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 8:33PM

:yawn:

Keep it trolling sk8 ... I have nothing to prove to you but because you asked - have bought and sold two investment properties, paid nearly all cash for my current house thats on the beach, put myself through college with my own money, bought and paid for my own car with my money (3 of them since high school), have two six year old twins that I take care of, a fiance (their mother), help take care of my elderly grandmother, a comfortable sum of money in the bank & a flourishing career in paradise. Not to mention I am my own business, am a liscensed real estate practitioner in the state of FL and have my brokers liscense in addition to about 8 other professional designations. I am director of my local home owners association and very active in my community. I never had mommy and daddy's money to depend on. I'm a 26 year old self made man. I've made my fair share of mistakes in life but I have always been accountable to myself and only had myself to depend on. I'm not going to sit here and tell you everything that I own but let's just say if I want something I can buy it because I worked hard for it. I'm very blessed to be in this position but I have also worked my ass off to get here. If you were me reading your post's what impression would you have?

You always talk that shit but you can never back it up with facts and you can NEVER admit when you are wrong because you have no humility. Learn to pick your battles. Maybe for you Joystiq and gaming in general is a big joke. It's my favorite past time and something I enjoy doing and discussing with like minded people. Not saying I'm perfect by any means but all the stuff I say is based off of my own experiences instead of rumor, forums, made up bullshit and hear say.

Every time I make a post there is a great chance (75%) you will follow with a comment just for the sake of being an ass. You need to look no further than this thread for evidence of that. Obviously you get some kind of sick fascination out of it or you wouldn't continue to it day after day. I know the best (mature) thing to do would be to ignore you but I enjoy exposing your motives and intentions.

There is nothing illegal about downloading Gears of War 2. The legality comes when you choose how to use the content. But, downloading is not illegal at all actually. Why do you think Comcast was fined by the FCC for throttling down subscribers that were using bit torrent file sharing? This is why net neutrality is so important going forward because the internet is meant to be fair and opened. The ISPs shouldn't have a vested interest with IP lobbying groups to illegally monitor subscribers activities. Everything is coming to a head and the newest revelation is a new "Ip Czar" that will be the head of a pseudo IP task force in America. The laws of the United States don't apply to servers that are physically located outside of the United States as you alluded to. Is it morally wrong? arguable. Is it unethical? debatable. Is it illegal? No. The people who are bootlegging, selling, benefiting from and distributing the content are doing illegal activity. There is allot of ambiguity there and differing opinions depending on who you ask.

There is nothing P2P about using a streaming site because it's all on dedicated/centralized servers located in countries that don't have IP protection - the reason they are not shut down. There is no sharing, uploading or downloading to it in the same sense of a P2P or Bit torrent network. You just stream content anonymously. I know you don't really understand IP laws and fair use (not many do - myself included to a certain extent) but there are allot of grey areas in there. Essentially, if you have ever listened to a song, watched a movie, documentary or other content on youtube that wasn't provided by the owner of the content or distributed with their permission you have done the same exact thing I do when I stream a movie. No difference at all. I don't own a copy of the content and I don't share the content with other people.

Did you use to go by the handle of Matt?

Look at this reply chain ... You replied to me for what exactly? The answer is because of petty bullshit. Making up lies and hyperbole at every turn. If you want to reply to something I say then do it - But, when you add your own conjecture and deduce an intent that's an outright lie it's just fucked up and you know it.

I'll let you have the last word because I'm over it ... Nothing constructive can come out of a back and forth between us

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 8:44PM

BTW Sk8

Good Luck With Your Test.

Daniel @ Nov 19th 2008 10:00AM

Activation has been up and down all morning. I was able to slip in and get mine going.

However, there's another issue that might be worth looking into. Audio for some users is down if you are using an HDMI cable. If anyone else is having this problem, there's an easy fix. Unplug your hard drive and start the console up. Once it hits the dashboard, plug it back in. Restart and the audio should be going. Worked for me.

JJ @ Nov 19th 2008 10:11AM

I anxiously downloaded the update this morning about 6am and ugh... i still dont like the new format... I dont know why but it just seems clunky and unneeded compared to the simplicity of the original dashboard.

I'm gonna keep plugging away at it, but so far it seems needlessly excessive.

Flame @ Nov 19th 2008 10:01AM

For some reason my in game music is working too well with the NXE. When i go to change a song it takes forever to actually change the song, its annoying me that i cant even play my GGXX music on gears 2. Anyone else experiencing these issues?

Hala Madrid!! (THE BIRD IS THE WORD!!) @ Nov 19th 2008 10:15AM

I think that Sony is behind this, those fucks.

el serpiente @ Nov 19th 2008 10:51AM

Yeah, and the caused that rash on your ass too. And they stole your girlfriend. And they control the world banking hegemony.

get help soon...

fantastic dan @ Nov 19th 2008 10:19AM

got mine working this morning at around 9:45 EST. it's great.

truBlue @ Nov 19th 2008 10:22AM

Competition sucks and Sony is wise to limit it's portfolio of movies to a sub-standard service such as Live. So flame on xbox 2 users. If M$ can hold a third party accountable for other third parties deals, ie the rumble feature Immersion signed with Sony violated a license with M$. M$ stated that Immersion could NOT license the Immersion rumble tech with Sony or else. Immersion had to pay up $20 million to M$ when Sony did settle with Immersion. Pot calling Kettle black I think.

deaftly @ Nov 19th 2008 10:31AM

I didn't even read your douchey looking post because of all the douchey dollar signs, douche.

LameDuck @ Nov 19th 2008 10:34AM

*Looks at the clock* Hmm... Isn't past Midnight! *feeds the troll* ^.^

*Damn you, Joystick comment system! /shakefist*

OnToGlory @ Nov 19th 2008 11:39AM

Yeah, XBLive, the current benchmark for console online, is sub-standard. I gave up on the PSN a long time ago because of its' lag filled games and unfriendly, inconvienient interface.

Epic fail, tard

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 19th 2008 2:39PM

While you three stooges were gathering your torches and pitchforks you seemed to all miss the point.

His point is that this is no different in the way that MS forced Immersions hand over liscensing rumble to Sony for the PS3. MS played the rumble card and Sony is currently playing the netflix card.