Microsoft Quietly Expands the Subscription XBox Plan

Written by: Dan Seitz | June 06, 2012 at 1:30PM


Earlier in the year, gamers heard that Microsoft would be offering the Kinect and a 4GB 360 for $99 if you signed on for two years of Gold at $15 a month. But it was only available at Microsoft Stores, of which there were less than twenty. As of the end of this month, it'll be a lot easier to find.

How big is the rollout? You'll be able to get a new system and a Kinect with a subscription at select GameStop locations…and all Best Buy locations.

It's not an unlimited deal, though: instead, Microsoft is expanding the pilot program and seeing how it does outside of their stores. In other words, yeah, your local Best Buy will have this deal…but not for long.

It's a pretty interesting decision. If you were wondering where Microsoft makes its money on this, that's in that subscription deal: a 360 and a Kinect bundle will run you $300 retail price, but committing to this subscription will ultimately cost you $460. Although, to be fair, you're still saving money if you always intended to go Gold.

And it will, they hope, lock you in as a faithful XBox 360 user, for when the new console that we all know is inevitable will come along.

Still, it's a pretty interesting deal, and it might force Sony to follow suit…and establish the retail model for the next generation of consoles.

Major Nelson: $99 4GB Xbox 360 and Kinect Coming to More Retailers