Report - Xbox Live Attach Rate on Xbox 360 Hits 60%

[fitbabits]

Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com) is reporting that the attach rate for Xbox Live on Xbox 360.

Check out the full story here (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=10054).

With Sony still only talking about what’s going to happen with its PlayStation online service, Microsoft took its opportunity to remind developers just how well Xbox Live is performing, as well as highlighting where it’s headed in future, in a lecture at the Develop Conference in Brighton, England.

The headline figure for Jeff Sullivan, one of Microsoft’s developer relations managers for the Games Technology Group, was the attach rate for Xbox Live amongst Xbox 360 users - a massive 60 percent, which is a huge increase over the 10 percent gained by the original Xbox.

“Every time I do this presentation I have to check what the new figures are,” Sullivan said, before rattling off up-to-date stats such as Xbox Live has hosted over two billion hours of gaming, including over 500 million games of Halo 2. It also handles over 900,000 voice and text messages per day. But there’s plenty more where that came from, with Microsoft on-track to hit its target of six million Xbox Live accounts in 2007.
Very impressive figures for what is a very enjoyable service for Xbox 360 owners and hugely important program for Microsoft.

[Atorak]

I couldn't even imagine having an XBox 360 without the Live Marketplace. Just the other night, I was playing UNO with my girlfriend, who really has ZERO interest in video games.


Note to Microsoft: PLEASE, PLEASE, release more 2-4 player Co-op games on XBL! I downloaded UNO to play with the girlfriend together, but when it said 1-4 players, that really meant me vs. 3 other people on XBL. //end disappointment

[absolut taco]

When they say 60%, are they talking about Xbox Live gold or silver?

[antoniogaud]

XBox Live = Next-Gen!

[Heretic Machine]

Highly impressive number, I would also be interested to know the ratio of Silver/Gold, though it is still an accomplishment no matter the number of Gold accounts.

[Steele Johnson]

xbox Live is what makes the system, IMO.

[Oddmaker]

Very nice, except i havent been on my xbox for awhile :(

[Roc Ingersol]

definitely concur. XBL and marketplace are the 360. The rest is window dressing.

which is why i desperately want Sony to come straight with their online offering --nothing half-assed. some competition in this area will be a huge boon for gaming.

[31 Flavas]

When they say 60%, are they talking about Xbox Live gold or silver?Yea, if its 60% gold, then that's cool. But if its just 60% silver it really only proves people want their game/system patches and updates.

That bashing aside, though, I could believe around 50-60% gold since Live is built in from the get go this time.

[Wyrm]

This is nice, but shouldn't it be higher? I know not everyone has broadband, but why would you buy a 360 if you couldn't get on live? If you are stupid? Live does indeed make the system what it is, and my fucking internet is dead right now. Getting someone to come fix it from charter is like getting a root canal from a stripper by way of her fucking stilleto.

[31 Flavas]

but why would you buy a 360 if you couldn't get on live?High def games?

I mean isn't that the whole other point of the system? Yes, it has a very nice "online", but if you don't like FPS, Racing, or MMORPG, you'd still have other very graphically advanced other games to buy and play and enjoy, right?

Or as you say... is it "stupid" to assume that for 360? Not that i'm intentionally flamebaiting, but you did bring it up.

[bapenguin]

When they say 60%, are they talking about Xbox Live gold or silver?

I'm sure it's both. But...from what I've seen on sites like Top360Tags as well as the 360 official boards there are quite a few Gold members out there. I bet it's more than half right now.

[Tharsis]

This is nice, but shouldn't it be higher? I know not everyone has broadband, but why would you buy a 360 if you couldn't get on live? If you are stupid? Live does indeed make the system what it is, and my fucking internet is dead right now. Getting someone to come fix it from charter is like getting a root canal from a stripper by way of her fucking stilleto.


I totally had something important to say, but now my teeth hurt. :eek:

I bought my 360 a few weeks ago, along with Table Tennis. I couldn't even play the game without first setting up a silver account (in my case, my 1 month free gold account) to download an update. So I'd wager that a big chunk of of this is for upgrade purposes.

Tip: The wife will let you buy a wireless adapter if you have strung 50 feet of ethernet cable down the hall - just give it time! :D

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Gamertag - Bacterial

[EvilBob46]

MS touting the 60% Live penetration rate could backfire - as the console's sales increase and it starts selling primarily to casual gamers as opposed to the hardcore crowd that would have jumped on the 360 bandwagon early on, that percentage is going to take a nose dive.

EDIT: Clean up.

[EternalGamer]

Say what? Games are requiring you to download updates now? What the fuck are those of us with no broadband available connection supposed to do if we buy such a game?

[Heretic Machine]

Say what? Games are requiring you to download updates now? What the fuck are those of us with no broadband available connection supposed to do if we buy such a game?

Most of the time the updates are only for the mulitplayer portion of the game.

[Wyrm]

I totally had something important to say, but now my teeth hurt. :eek:

I bought my 360 a few weeks ago, along with Table Tennis. I couldn't even play the game without first setting up a silver account (in my case, my 1 month free gold account) to download an update. So I'd wager that a big chunk of of this is for upgrade purposes.

Tip: The wife will let you buy a wireless adapter if you have strung 50 feet of ethernet cable down the hall - just give it time! :D

-------------------
Gamertag - Bacterial

My internet has to work before my GF can bitch at me about it. :)

My apologies for the comment about my cable company, but that's pretty much how they make me feel.

High def games?

I mean isn't that the whole other point of the system? Yes, it has a very nice "online", but if you don't like FPS, Racing, or MMORPG, you'd still have other very graphically advanced other games to buy and play and enjoy, right?

Or as you say... is it "stupid" to assume that for 360? Not that i'm intentionally flamebaiting, but you did bring it up.

I bought a 360 to do all those things online. I want to play my HD, next gen game system with my friends over the internet. Sure, it's going to look great, but Live has always been my main selling point for the xbox. I spent more time on Halo 2 live than anything I can think of, and it's because the whole package delivers an awesome experience.

If you bought the 360 thinking you were going to enjoy some next gen games, that's fine, but you're missing half of the reason the thing even exists. It was built from the ground up to be a gateway to the online world of Live, and it just works so well, I cannot see myself having even gone near the thing without it.

[ChiHawk]

Yea, if its 60% gold, then that's cool. But if its just 60% silver it really only proves people want their game/system patches and updates.

That bashing aside, though, I could believe around 50-60% gold since Live is built in from the get go this time.

I would bet that the 60% number is every 360 connected to Live, regardless of account type. To me the account type doesn't matter, it's the fact that of the, what, nearly 4MM 360s sold, 2.4MM are connected to the internet. That's about the same number that went online in the entire life of the original Xbox (10% of 20-some million). It seems that, without dispute, the 360 is/will be bringing new people onto Live. Which is good for everybody that uses it.

[Khash]

It's 60% silver and gold. If it was 60% gold, they'd actually say it. Personally, I don't think 60% of early adopters using a free service is all that impressive. I bet gold is like 15%.

[TrackZero]

When they say 60%, are they talking about Xbox Live gold or silver?

More than likely, both.

[Wyrm]

It's 60% silver and gold. If it was 60% gold, they'd actually say it. Personally, I don't think 60% of early adopters using a free service is all that impressive. I bet gold is like 15%.

I'd be willing to bet it's more than that.

[Dag-Sabot]

Say what? Games are requiring you to download updates now? What the fuck are those of us with no broadband available connection supposed to do if we buy such a game?

I dunno man, form a support group with the other 5 people who don't have bradband? :)

j/k My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

[Bargash]

Ive been considering dumping xbox gold for a while now. All I ever use it for is downloading demos and trailers and thats not worth the cost.

[absolut taco]

Tip: The wife will let you buy a wireless adapter if you have strung 50 feet of ethernet cable down the hall - just give it time! :D
Goddamnit, I have 100 feet going across the wall (dark blue cable on white wall), over a door, down the stairs, and my wife hasn't complained yet! What am I doing wrong?!? :D

[absolut taco]

Ive been considering dumping xbox gold for a while now. All I ever use it for is downloading demos and trailers and thats not worth the cost.
You need GRAW. Fun as hell multiplayer!

[Grifter]

Ive been considering dumping xbox gold for a while now. All I ever use it for is downloading demos and trailers and thats not worth the cost.

The way you worded your post it sounds like you purchased gold in order to download demos and trailers, if that is the case you just wasted $50 considering that service comes free with silver. If I just miss-read your post and you knew this already ignore what you just read.

[Bargash]

You need GRAW. Fun as hell multiplayer!

I tried playing GRAW multiplayer. After 3 hrs of trying I managed to play 1 game. The rest of the time I spent in lobbies waiting or getting kicked from lobbies because I was only Level 1. Needless to say I think GRAW multiplayer is less than ideal.

[antoniogaud]

There is a trick to getting on GRAW games without waiting a long time... Hard to explain, but you sort of have to 'feel' what everyone is playing that night. of course if you have friends, that's the easiest way to get on instantly!

[Cyrano]

I'd be embarassed if only 60% of users took advantage of a free feature of my product. That's shockingly low. I certainly wouldn't brag about it. I don't even think it's Microsoft's fault; Live (Silver) is a great service. What the hell are 40% of 360 owners thinking?

[absolut taco]

It seems that, without dispute, the 360 is/will be bringing new people onto Live. Which is good for everybody that uses it.
Achievements FTW!

[Trickyicky]

I'd be embarassed if only 60% of users took advantage of a free feature of my product.

They either don't have BB or don't have a credit card, probably. Unless you don't need a card for silver. It's probably just the connection.

[ChiHawk]

I'd be embarassed if only 60% of users took advantage of a free feature of my product. That's shockingly low. I certainly wouldn't brag about it. I don't even think it's Microsoft's fault; Live (Silver) is a great service. What the hell are 40% of 360 owners thinking?

The free feature requires people to network their homes. This is a pretty significant barrier to some. It also requires a broadband internet connection, something only a fraction of US households (the largest 360 install base) have. Only 10% of Xbox owners and less than 10% (I think) of PS2 owners went online. If the 360 stays north of that, especially near 40-50%, it's an achievment.

BTW - I just came acrosss an interesting figure from NPD Funworld. According to them, only 66% of PC gamers play online. Is that an embarrassment?