eBay selling 12 months of Xbox Live for $27.99

by David Hinkle { Jun 27th 2009 at 4:00PM }

eBay is running another one of its daily deals, this time offering 12+1 months of Xbox Live Gold membership for the very reasonable price of $27.99. Compare that to the full price of $49.99, and we don't have to tell you how appealing this deal is. So, if you're going to take the plunge, act now. The deal ends Jun 28, at 8AM PDT.

[Thanks, Bikram!]

Tags: deal, ebay, sale, xbox-live, xbox-live-membership

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

-Vexx- @ Jun 27th 2009 4:11PM

>eBay
>Pre-paid cards

Yup this can be trusted

Xvnine @ Jun 27th 2009 4:22PM

It's from buy.com you retard.

-Vexx- @ Jun 27th 2009 4:24PM

I don't think you realize how stupid this is paying subscriptions from the net that's not from the official site. >_>.

An Invalid Code isnt rare bud.

Noodles In Soup @ Jun 27th 2009 4:27PM

Buy.com IS eBay, genius.

Ghen @ Jun 27th 2009 4:39PM

buy.com has been around forever. If it was going to do illegitimate business it would have folded before ebay was even started.

Xvnine @ Jun 27th 2009 4:44PM

It's an unscratched(Think it's a peel crap) physical(they MAIL it to you) code. At that point it, if it was invalid than it still wouldn't be their fault.

Nap @ Jun 27th 2009 5:01PM

Boo this man!

Blessed Ossoona @ Jun 27th 2009 5:50PM

Got mine, around 600 left when I got it, out of 5000, now it says only more than 10.

Garst @ Jun 27th 2009 7:11PM

I'm not fully convinced that it's buy.com. If you go to the ebay store front, and click the about link, they refer to themselves as only buy. But if you go buy.com and click the about link, it says buy.com whenever it refers to itself. While it could still be buy.com, it could just as easily be a legit company that built itself on the back of buy.com. Either way, I don't think you have to worry about getting ripped off based on the seller's rep.

XLM @ Jun 28th 2009 2:12AM

So wait, is he a retard or a genius?

ARPRINCE @ Jun 28th 2009 10:51AM

lol...retard I agree!

Wiizer @ Jun 27th 2009 4:17PM

OR, compare that to the price of the PSN!...

Oh wait, don't.

Brian @ Jun 27th 2009 4:48PM

go away troll

Warlord @ Jun 27th 2009 4:52PM

@brian
NO YOU!
=D

The Baron @ Jun 27th 2009 4:58PM

This point was both relevant and entirely balanced.

Oh wait, don't.

.. no wait... ah nevermind.

Saria the Cat @ Jun 27th 2009 6:24PM

HAY THANX FOR STOPPIN BY

GLAD THIS POST IS AS RELEVANT FER YOU AS YOUR COMMENT IS FER US

WiredKnight @ Jun 27th 2009 7:04PM

While you're at it, compare the number of users on each service, and consequently how long it takes to find a match...

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Jun 27th 2009 11:13PM

I never had matchmaking issues with either service on any game other than Gears Of War 2 and that was a different issue. How is the total number of subscribers relevant to matchmaking for an individual game? A much older and forgotten game is going to be equally empty on both platforms.

This is also another moment for the Live "is only pennies a day" crowd to sell the service. Let's see - after taxes (let's say .07) and shipping (hell I don't know let's just say $2.00) that brings the total to $27.99 x .07 + 2 = $31.94/365 = about .09 cents per day, about $2.66 per month and about .62 cents a week. So, it is only pennies a day! Yay! That means is worth it!

Ok I know I was being a little sarcastic but it was done so in jest.

Wiizer @ Jun 28th 2009 12:14AM

@ Alistair

Don't respond to these fools. They just get mad when I bring up a valid point they can't combat with any real logic.

The idea that Xbox Live's service is any different than the PSN's (excluding the games offered on each and interface) is absolutely stupid.

OnToGloryReturns @ Jun 28th 2009 2:05AM

"The idea that Xbox Live's service is any different than the PSN's (excluding the games offered on each and interface) is absolutely stupid."

really? Here's how they're different:

XBLive is fully integrated into the console experience. You have new releases, trailers, events, IGN insider vids, game spotlights, Netflix, your friends list right at your fingertips in the NXE. No launching the network and hunting around and the highlight items are always being updated to stay current. The newest content is front and center in the respective channels, easy to see and navigate.

Speaking of updates, title updates are ten second affairs on Live. It automatically signs you out of Live for a few seconds then signs you right back in and if you were in a party it puts you right back in it. The last time I played LBP the update took forever but that is not unusual in my experience with the PSN.

How's that party system on the PSN? Oh, there isn't one. On Live I can be in a party with up to 8 people, all playing or watching different things while we all chat and send each other invites if necessary (cross game invites as well). I can also view they're profile/compare games and send them text or voice messages at any time from any game. The PSN could start with getting cross game chat then try to catch up further with a party system.

I recently spent some significant time w/the PSN as I was spending time on my PS3 playing Uncharted and the Uncharted 2 beta plus some LBP. The PSN, while improved, is far from the complete, feature rich experience that XBox Live is. And the gap is going to get wider this fall w/ the new features and I think that 1 vs 100 is going to be incredibly popular judging from the beta.

So, the idea that XBox Live is no different than the PSN is ridiculously uniformed.

zero @ Jun 28th 2009 1:06PM

You get what you pay for. Obvious troll is obvious.

Wiizer @ Jun 28th 2009 1:49PM

@ OnToGloryReturns

I hope you have a PS3, because you're not making a very strong argument.

1- PS3 has the PS Store with "new releases, trailers, events, GT insider vids, game spotlights, PS DOWNLOAD SERVICE, your friends list right at your fingertips in the XMB"... So, what's the difference?

2- Updates depend on which software you're dealing with. Patches update quickly for me in Soul Calibur and Need for Speed, so I don't think that's a valid point.

3- Oh, you've got me there!...

So, you're saying you pay $50 extra bucks, I'm not paying, for voice chat (which most likely we'll have this year on PSN) and the ability to "view they're profile/compare games and send them text or voice messages at any time from any game"

Which I'm able to do, btw. I can send text messages and text chat with ppl from ANY GAME, too! SHOCKING, I KNOW. Since YOU pay for it and everything.

And its "their", not "they're".

OnToGloryReturns @ Jun 28th 2009 3:31PM

@Wiizer

First off, bite me on the 'they're'/'their'. A friggin mistake.

Secondly - you're (that's 'you are' and 'that is') missing the point on the interface. When I'm in the Playstation Store I can't access the XMB without exiting. The only thing that I find streaming are the movie previews; everything else I look at I have to either download, or pay for it then download (KZ2 strategy, Quore, etc). On Live the channels are right there in the dashboard for me to peruse and all the most current stuff is right on top - including things I may not have known about. On the PSN all you see are 'Popular Games' and 'Top downloads'. There's a smattering of stuff on the homepage that cycles but nowhere near the level of content that you can see on Live that is updated almost every day. So, here I am pecking around or content while I'm completely removed from the social experience. On Live I can do all of that without leaving the party I'm in - and I can jump from party to party if I need to. That's what I mean by fully integrated and as Live is primarily a social platform that makes all the difference.

Again, on the party system - "I can send text messages and text chat" - aren't they the same thing? You're also talking about minimal communication with one person and after you are accustomed to cross game voice chat and party chat, text messages don't cut it. It's ok for a quick blurb like ('be right there') or ('in a different party, be there in a sec') but for setting up games and travelling from game to game as a group voice chat is essential and when you can't do it on the PSN it is frustrating. If you're online service is going to be a premium social experience you have to have that. Yeah, I know I have you there.

'Patches update quickly' - what's quickly? Is it ten seconds? Because I've never experienced anything that fast on the PSN and the firmware updates are really long. For me a firmware update is ten minutes at the very least (and that is rare) and then you have to install it. Again, frustrating when I'm used to such a more efficient service.

I've never paid more the $40 for my year of Live - I probably spend more on coffee in a month. You're (that's 'you are' and 'that is') talking about cents a day. Live is arguably the best value and best feature of the system where I find the PSN to be minimally functional in comparison.

I really enjoy my PS3, check my post history to see me gushing over Uncharted and LBP while smacking stupid fanboys; so I'm as objective as you can get. I find Live to be better than the PSN by a wide margin in content, features, and most importantly for gamers - functionality.

I will now sign out of the Playstation Store so I can play the Uncharted beta where hardly anyone talks. yay.

Wiizer @ Jun 28th 2009 4:17PM

OnToGloryReturns, it sounds like you're making mountains out of molehills... None of what you've told me justifies paying additional money to be 'online LIVE'.

But, maybe that's why we're having this disagreement. I believe online service should be free, and you want some additional interface perks.

OnToGloryReturns @ Jun 28th 2009 7:33PM

In a way it is mountains out of molehills. It's an example of the whole being greater than the sum of its' parts. All those little features add up - especially when it comes to coordinating with people to get a game going. I play with the same group of guys pretty much every night and it's never a problem setting anything up and on the PSN it really is a headache.

I get that the idea of paying ruffles peoples feathers but the cost is so minimal; like I said I spend more on coffee in a month than I do on my Live subscription for the whole year.

Have you spent a consistent amount of time on XBL? Make that your primary gaming platform then go back to the PSN and see how disconnected and stripped down it feels.

1 vs 100 is so much fun, by the way. The primetime live rounds are a blast. I can't wait to see them doing guest hosts and maybe some other modes. Today they used all player submitted questions which was cool - crediting the gamertag of each person who submitted the question. Just with 1 vs 100 and Facebook I think Live is taking another big step. Not to mention MS instant messenger that I use quite a bit with my friend who doesn't have a 360 but she messages me thru her laptop while I'm on Live.

AkmGamer @ Jun 27th 2009 4:17PM

I bought one this morning, I couldn't possibly pass this up. My subscription was almost up anyway.

Covarr @ Jun 27th 2009 4:20PM

Hmm... Or, I could play TF2 on my PC (or even PS3) for free.

I love the XBox 360, I really do, but I refuse to pay for online games. This is the same reason I have never played WoW.

Saria the Cat @ Jun 27th 2009 5:35PM

If I had an up-to-date gaming PC, I'd probably be in the same boat with ya. But since I can't afford an up-to-date gaming PC, and XBL is way cheaper per-year than building and then maintaining said PC, I use Live.

The Baron @ Jun 27th 2009 6:22PM

It's sad that the opinion of the majority is also entirely wrong.

How much do you think you have to spend to play TF2? How much did the computer, iPhone or other piece of sophisticated electronics you're commenting on Joystiq with cost?

The Baron @ Jun 27th 2009 6:23PM

^ My point being that you had to buy one anyway.

Saria the Cat @ Jun 27th 2009 6:40PM

@The Baron: I didn't mean that as a diss to PC gamers. If I could have afforded a gaming PC going into college (as well as cost of maintenance) instead of my simple laptop which I've used and not upgraded for 3 years, I'd probably be of the same opinion. I also could only afford one computer, and thought a laptop would be more practical for school than a desktop.

Do enlighten me, how much does it cost to build a decent gaming PC from scratch these days, and how much per year do you need to keep it up to date? I'm just curious 'cause I really don't know.

knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Jun 27th 2009 8:01PM

Plenty of people will tell you it's cheaper nowadays, and are almost always entirely wrong because they miss half the parts. Anyway....I built my PC Christmas 2007 for about £800 (without the monitor) and it still maxes basically everything (except, you know, Crysis). The expensive parts are the mobo (They can come cheap but you're looking at over £100 for a decent one that won't fry), a CPU (a good C2D is over £100 again), and the Graphics card (something mid-high range (Like a GTX 260) will set you back around £130). Then you need a decent Power Supply, RAM (relatively cheap), HDD, Case (more expensive than you may think), Sound card. It all adds up, but if you use your computer a lot, even if it's not really for gaming, £800 is a reasonable price to pay. The myth of computers becoming scrap after a year is wrong. As I said, mine is 18 months old and still maxes everything and it wasn't massively high end back the (8800gt, C2D E6750, 2gb RAM).

knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Jun 27th 2009 8:03PM

Also, I'd definitely recommend building yourself. It's very self explanatory, and quite a bit cheaper. Just make sure you have someone else a bit more knowledgable advise you on parts, because there are some things you need to watch out for (Enough watts from your PSU, the correct RAM, etc)

DWells55 @ Jun 27th 2009 10:28PM

PC gaming is cheap. I built a solid Hackintosh rig just recently for $350 as a father's day gift.
2.5GHz Intel E5200 (easily overclocked to 3.4GHz on stock cooling)
4GB OCZ Reaper DDR2
500GB Samsung Spinpoint F1
384MB GeForce 9600GSO

Yeah, the GSO is pretty mediocre, but a HD 4850 is a pretty fast card and runs a measly $75 these days. Only reason I bought the 9600GSO is because it's compatible with OS X with just an EFI string.

Also, that price includes the case, but no monitor or speakers. The Xbox doesn't include a TV or speakers either. So $299 for an Xbox with a 60GB drive + $50 for a year of XBL (normally) comes out the same as this PC.

knighty (GT: ZeraKnight) @ Jun 27th 2009 11:29PM

And just as I said, here comes one of the people claiming it's cheaper than it is, and for the exact reasons I mentioned.

MrKlorox @ Jun 27th 2009 11:38PM

As a more often PC gamer than console gamer, I would have to agree with Nighty and Saria. Frankly I don't have any money to spend on things like an automobile due to my need to keep my computer up to date to play all modern games. PC gaming is truly for the dedicated.

If I wasn't a fidelity fiend, I would be perfectly complacent with only a single console and a laptop.

Slaziman @ Jun 28th 2009 3:29AM

Do you guys buy your PC's from Alienware or something? it's really not that much more expensive than a console. Especially If you've already got a PC (that's case + hdd + optical drives right there, which is why most people leave that out). You then only need a mobo with everything on it and you're set. $300 and you can play anything you want.

People just like to think that you are required to buy the high-end stuff because your PC will be obsolete otherwise, but the truth is my good ol' 8800GT still plays all the games I want, and I bet you could find something like that for less than $100 right now. Futureproofing is useless, don't do it. You'll just pay early adopter tax.

The Baron @ Jun 28th 2009 12:23PM

I think the misconception is more that you don't really need to constantly upgrade your rig. I got something prebuilt for £600 in 2006 (so I could easily have skimmed it down) with an AMD X2 2.2GHz and x1950Pro 512MB which, suprise suprise was still running games on medium/high settings right up until a month ago.

I do have to admit that I swapped out the graphics card because I picked up a GTX260 216-core in a sale. But this was completely optional, since developers aren't stupid enough (well, except Crysis and GTA4: bad port) to alienate most of the market with unreasonable system requirements.

I do enjoy my console, but given that I picked up a PS3 (because of free multiplayer which I never use) instead of a 360, I can't really complain about the cost of PC gaming.

Another hidden benefit is that you get so much extra content out of games. Mods are easy to use and often very good. There's a lot of great freeware, and the games are £10/$10 cheaper in the first place, and drop down in price a lot faster because they're not being lorded over by single, greedy companies.

DWells55 @ Jun 29th 2009 5:05AM

knighty, the $350 included everything you needed for a working PC. Here's the other parts included in that price:
GigaByte GZ-X5 case w/ 120mm fan
GigaByte GA-G31M-ES2L motherboard
OCZ 500W StealthXStream PSU
Samsung 22x DVD+-RW drive
Integrated ALC883 audio (handles 5.1 and 7.1 just fine, optical out available with $10 bracket)

So yeah, PC gaming is cheap.

Nap @ Jun 27th 2009 4:21PM

I just got a notice today saying I need to renew hahaha. Perfect timing!

coolj31 @ Jun 27th 2009 4:23PM

This is actually only 12 months there is no bonus month.

Xvnine @ Jun 27th 2009 4:23PM

Most ebay users have a 8% coupon that you should of received that expires at the end of the month. Plus 8% bing.com(live.com) cashback makes this the best deal for a long time if ever. Max is 2 per account I believe.

VSpeck @ Jun 27th 2009 4:58PM

Bro how do you get the discount from Bing? I couldn't figure it out.

Vcize @ Jun 27th 2009 5:20PM

Go to Bing.com and search "wii". You should see a link at the top for 8% cashback through ebay. Click it, then it'll redirect you to ebay and you can search for whatever you want.

VSpeck @ Jun 27th 2009 6:10PM

Got it. Thx bro.

Xvnine @ Jun 27th 2009 4:24PM

Also it's not 12+1, it's just those old 12 month ones.

Professor Lario @ Jun 27th 2009 4:39PM

Thanks for the notice. I have been paying $8 a month on auto bill - what a dolt!

Brian @ Jun 27th 2009 4:47PM

holy hell why hadnt you at least done 50 a year

Metoo @ Jun 27th 2009 4:49PM

I haven't touched my 360's online in months, so I might not renew. Too busy with the PS3/Wii.

Nuggstein @ Jun 27th 2009 4:50PM

You guys are f*ckin retarded. eBay is partnered with Buy.com. Nothing is illegitimate. If I needed Live right now I would've purchased it immediately, but I recently just bought a subscription from Amazon, also a prepaid card from a reputable online website. They're purchased as new...it's not from some person, it's from a company. When you get the card there will be a piece that you peel off to reveal your card.

And it's better purchasing a subscription from a reputable online website than to purchase it directly from Microsoft where if you're paying monthly...you're paying nearly double of what you pay if you pay yearly, and if you pay yearly, you can get at least $10-$15 off if you buy it on a non-Microsoft site.

Done.

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