Microsoft’s decision to make Xbox users pay $60 per year as a fee for Gold Membership if they wish to stream content from Netflix is preposterous indeed. Even if a user has Netflix subscription, he can’t access Netflix content on Xbox. Apparently to placate the angry Xbox users, Microsoft has announced free access to the Netflix app on Xbox for three days.
When Microsoft’s decision first came to light, Xbox users were outraged. On nearly ever other platform, a user is able to access Netflix content only if he has a Netflix subscription. So when you have to pay an additional $60 to access the same service on Xbox, that is unfair indeed.
Comments on the blog post which announced the three-day free access were no amicable either. A three-days free access to the app barely does any good to the users and a commentator noted, “might [sic] be worth noting that on Wii, Wii U, 3DS, PS3, Windows 8, Windows Phone, iPhone, iPad and Android, Netflix is ALWAYS unlocked for subscribers, and ALWAYS free to use just by owning the device. Love my Xbox, and I’d never lose my Live subscription, but Microsoft is out of line to demand a live gold account to use the Netflix app, or indeed ANY app that already requires a paid subscription.”
Moreover, it would seem that the three day access is not exactly meant as a goodwill gesture. Rather, Microsoft may have offered it simply as part of the promotions for certain upcoming Netflix series such as ‘House of Cards.’
Source: Major Nelson
Courtesy: TNW
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