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Microsoft to reportedly let Xbox users watch Netflix without a Live Gold subscription

Published May 13th, 2014 8:35AM EDT
Microsoft Xbox One Netflix Hulu

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It looks like Microsoft is about to make another very welcome change to the Xbox One. Unnamed sources tell Ars Technica that Microsoft is planning to drop its requirement that Xbox users have a paid Live Gold subscription to access Netflix and Hulu on their consoles.

That said, Ars’s sources say that Microsoft is considering putting other services behind its paywall to make up for the loss of Netflix and Hulu as major incentives for users to sign up for Live Gold.

Microsoft has come under pressure to lift the paywall for popular video streaming apps since rival Sony doesn’t require any subscriptions for users to watch them on the PS4 and other set-top boxes such as Roku and Apple TV similarly offer access to Netflix and Hulu without any additional fees.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.