Microsoft offering Silver members one month of Xbox Live Gold for $1
by Randy Nelson 
{ Jun 17th 2009 at 10:45PM } 
No, Xbox Live Silver members, that's not a massive typo you're seeing on the dashboard's Spotlight channel. Microsoft really is offering one month of Gold membership for $1 to US users. Of course, it's a "limited-time offer" -- and when that month's up, you'll be automatically charged for the next 11 months of membership (which you can opt out of). The last time MS offered a deal on Gold membership was back in March, where Silver users were offered one year of the good stuff for $39.99, $10 off the regular price.
[Thanks, Sam!]
[Thanks, Sam!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
relaxeder @ Jun 17th 2009 10:50PM
Can you opt out of the recurring fees from the dashboard, or do you still have to call customer support and go through the phone tree garbage?
GreyFox @ Jun 17th 2009 11:42PM
You have to call in. Have fun!
giantenemycrab @ Jun 17th 2009 11:49PM
Wait, seriously? You can't opt out from your console? Are all 1 month subscriptions like that? That's seriously stupid.
Swagman @ Jun 18th 2009 1:22AM
I cannot comment on this promo specifically, however my Gold subscription does not auto-renew itself when it runs out every year. I can even check the status of the account from my 360 under ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT, and it states that it does not auto-renew.
I pay for it every year by debit card, and it still does not automatically renew itself. So I am guessing the option is there to set up auto-renew or to opt out of it, from the console.
dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 18th 2009 1:42AM
Last I checked, the only way to opt out was to call them... if that is not the case currently, I'm interested in this. (For future reference, anyway; I'm completely fine with being subscribed for now)
DarkNessBear @ Jun 18th 2009 2:31AM
Don't put your credit card into xbox live! They are total dicks trying to do anything... they banned my account because I didn't pay them for another year. Is that even right?!
Papa Midnight @ Jun 18th 2009 9:46AM
Still gotta call to opt out. It's a bullshit system.
Alex @ Jun 18th 2009 10:40AM
Probs have to call them.
This is why you go for the prepaid cards...
Heimbachae @ Jun 18th 2009 12:18PM
@swagman i have the auto pay thing going on right now, and i have for some time now, but if i wanted to get a 12 month card through newegg.com or amazong or something and i input that into my dash would the autopay still take out of my account even after i've put it another 12 months???
Blue_Falcon @ Jun 17th 2009 10:53PM
You want to know what I've never understood? Why can't MS Points be used to buy XBL subscriptions when they can be used for everything else? I wasn't planning on getting this, but I have $40 in my account right now and yet I wouldn't be able to get this if I wanted to since I don't have a credit card. It doesn't make sense, if you ask me.
pocketcup @ Jun 17th 2009 11:09PM
It's because you've already paid for your MS points. To get a new XBL subscription you're forced to give them more cash. Typical Microsoft.
roger @ Jun 17th 2009 10:55PM
What they need to do is offer it for free or at the very least drop it down to $30.
__smooth__ @ Jun 18th 2009 12:54AM
you're lucky. We pay 60€ (+/- $80 US)
Andrea @ Jun 18th 2009 3:04AM
If you're paying € 60 that's your fault, you can find it online for around €35. Yes, Europe-compatible subscription cards.
Javier Aguayo @ Jun 18th 2009 11:41AM
For U.S. people, Xbox live 12 month card for 39.99 with free shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16874103129
MrSpaceCowboy @ Jun 17th 2009 10:58PM
The way the service is behaving after yesterday's outage, $1 is too much.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 17th 2009 11:06PM
And with today's new outrage,it seems you can't download the games from xbox live not even if you just pay for them.
If you just paid 1600 or 800 for a game you get a big f*ck you today because the system is not working.In some cases like mine the system takes your points and gives you nothing,nada,zero,0,0.00$,Ted Danson it just takes your points like a MS soda vending machine.
Beatz @ Jun 17th 2009 11:11PM
Same thing happening for me. Which is a shame, because I was really excited to play Rocket Riot. Another thing is, I can't use Netflix. It gives me an error when I try to update. What's the deal, Microsoft?
harry @ Jun 17th 2009 11:18PM
Live was down yesterday for scheduled maintenance.
MystileArmor @ Jun 17th 2009 11:28PM
Really Harry? We had no clue!!
Anyways, yeah after the update I can't download any arcade games either, although my Netflix works just fine.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 18th 2009 12:01AM
Fixed now according to the cool guys in the forums.
Sam & Max and Magic here I go.
MystileArmor @ Jun 18th 2009 1:02AM
Not fixed where I'm at... Sam & Max.. here I don't go =(
Duke @ Jun 18th 2009 12:14PM
Esc, you are making it sound like it took your money and didn't return it or give you the game download. Did you mean that the DL didn't work art first but later did? I doubt they are taking the points and then not honoring the purchases made, since you can delete a game from your HD and later DL it again.
Mazrael @ Jun 17th 2009 11:07PM
...Silver accounts... I thought they were a mere myth.. :d
relaxeder @ Jun 17th 2009 11:14PM
Nah, I seen wunna tham up in the hills... shot it n' strung 'er up in my gee-rawj.
OLDMIKE @ Jun 17th 2009 11:18PM
I have a silver as why pay for online if you also have a PS3
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 17th 2009 11:11PM
It should be free you are just charging your clients outside the U.S for a broken system which only benefits are the function to play online which is free in any other platform and use of the marketplace.
And I'm pissed off because the system took away from me 1600p when I tried to download Sam & Max today and Microsoft tech support in Argentina is flippin's retarded,good thing I got transfer to those cool guys in Venezuela again.
R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Jun 17th 2009 11:51PM
play online...and early demo access.....and soon last.fm....and that free avatar game
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 18th 2009 12:00AM
"outside the U.S"
No last.Fm
No netflix
Avatars only
Final Destination.
Play online-free in any other platform
Early demo access...
Well we do get more demos than PS3 owners,that's true...as long you have a gold subscription.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 18th 2009 12:10AM
It is a good service if you live in the U.S, U.K or any Country in which you can use all the Xbox 360 features which makes it almost as cool as a Dreamcast (Dreamcast = Coolest console ever) but look here the Xlive gold membership cost about 60$ (70$ now I think), games are about a 100$ now and I can't access half of the features and with this event I was pissed off.
The membership should be free or at least for us who can't access half of the content it should have a discount. Then again MS points are cheaper here than in most countries.
In the case of Sony I can't access any feature like Home or any beta because they just don’t give a damn about this territory but at least is free so I guess I'm paying what it’s worth lol.
InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 18th 2009 11:24AM
@ ESC
You live outside the US? That can also be the answer to why your downloads on PSN might be slow. As for Burnout Paradise yea it took me 45 min to download ALL the patches but that is because the game came out with so many updates for example the bikes, cars, island, etc. and if you didnt have the previous updates PSN downloads them all one by one. PSN is super fast for me and I live in NYC. It's not amazing with alot of features but it gets the job done which is letting me talk to my friends and play games online with them. Anything else imo is a bonus.
E.P. @ Jun 17th 2009 11:18PM
So glad I have a ps3. Don't have to pay to play online. bwahahaha! Yes I went there.
Mazrael @ Jun 17th 2009 11:27PM
There are names for people who like 'hand outs'...
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 17th 2009 11:35PM
Which reminds me I just spent 1 hour waiting my Ps3 to update Little Big Planet.
Seriously does the system deletes those 32mb updates or they are still using my space storage? I really don0t know and burnout paradise took 2 hours to update when I got it last month.
jarhead906 @ Jun 18th 2009 1:10AM
@ Mazrael
So you're saying that PSN is practically a poor man's online gaming source?
Well, I'm glad you convinced me. For a second there I almost believed that games like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare played exactly the same online for PSN and XBL. No wonder that price tag is there!
KingOfGods @ Jun 18th 2009 8:04AM
"So you're saying that PSN is practically a poor man's online gaming source?
Well, I'm glad you convinced me. For a second there I almost believed that games like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare played exactly the same online for PSN and XBL. No wonder that price tag is there!"
@Jarhead
I really hate this argument. PS3 fanboys always use that game as an example when they damn well know a lot of the games of PS3 don"t even have a proper friend invite. Shit until the update the other day it was hard to play with friends on Killzone and it stil isnt all that great. What about MGS? it has its own friends list separate from PSN, shit I can name a few more but those are just their flag ship titles.
It's a shame that when my buddies and I want to jump on any online game on PS3 we boot up our 360s and use the party system there just so we can get in a room together.
Please stop with the bullshit, Live is so much more than just online multiplayer.
j.howlett @ Jun 18th 2009 9:28AM
they should let silver members have access to every part of the game they paid for, they can charge whatever for the rest. i've never had a problem getting into a game of killzone with someone on my list, they have made it easier to stick together recently. as for mgs, if they don't want to go through psn it's on them. i think they could have more players if they did but they have the dedicated fans.
i.got.skiillz @ Jun 18th 2009 9:21AM
is this in canada??
Lone Starr @ Jun 17th 2009 11:25PM
And MS rakes in a lot of cash as the participants forget to cancel their subscriptions. Genius!
vinnie05 @ Jun 17th 2009 11:35PM
Not just for the US, i just logged into my xbox live account from the AU site and can also get the offer :)
Vidikron @ Jun 17th 2009 11:37PM
Hmm... my wife created a new account two days ago and got 1 month free.
WiredKnight @ Jun 17th 2009 11:45PM
All new Live accounts give you a month free.
jarhead906 @ Jun 18th 2009 1:11AM
Hmmm... I just tried making a new account on a friends' 360 and it only threw priced XBL options in my face.
Is there a 'limit' to the number of XBL Gold accounts on a console, or the number of accounts period?
Cal @ Jun 18th 2009 1:17AM
Each Xbox 360 comes with a free month of gold for three different accounts created on the console
Mr Clickerson @ Jun 18th 2009 4:16AM
I'm pretty sure it's 5 accounts, not just 3... :S
CB @ Jun 18th 2009 4:31AM
On mine it was only 3.
"Hmmm... I just tried making a new account on a friends' 360 and it only threw priced XBL options in my face."
You choose Silver, then you'll get a month free.
LuiginDaisy @ Jun 17th 2009 11:54PM
My mother and siblings are interested in playing, but not paying. Maybe MS should add a "Master account" on each 360 so every account can have gold on that one box, but recovering it on another will just make it silver.
K3VlN @ Jun 18th 2009 12:07AM
I just bought the $1 month today and they charged me $2.
wastedyears @ Jun 18th 2009 12:07AM
You don't get early demo access. They just make Silver accounts wait somewhere between 1-7 days before downloading it. Unless of course you have a PS3, when you get the same 'early access' demo at the same time as XBL Gold subscribers. And for the guy waiting 2 hours to update a game: Either you are full of shit or you have a terribly slow connection.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 18th 2009 12:19AM
Yes because the Ps3 update system is f*cking wonderful
It took less than 1 hour to download all the Burnout Paradise updates to the date (The game is old I guess and I got it last month) and it took forever to install all the updates.
Today I was playing Little Big Planet and it took some good 10 minutes to update and I play it every 2 or 3 weeks.
You can try this yourself, buy a heavy supported online game from 2 years ago and just run it on your PS3,it will take ages and for someone who actually has a job and a very tight schedule these installs are f*cking annoying.
On the bright side is good to see that some games get patched automatically like in the Pc but this is also annoying, I thought this was one of the advantages consoles had over Pc just pick up and play. Is like trying to play Neverwinter nights or World of Warcraft it takes forever to install all the updates but in the Pc at least you can do something else while you wait in this case I just left the Ps3 downloading while I played something else on my other consoles.