Netflix coming exclusively to Xbox 360 'at no additional cost'

69 Comments by Andrew Yoon Jul 14th 2008 2:28PM
Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, E3

We heard the rumblings ... Netflix is coming to home consoles. But which platform? Microsoft raised its hand today at its E3 keynote and said "us!" Xbox 360 will be getting Netflix's on-demand programming later this year. Xbox Live subscribers that already have Netflix memberships can enjoy Netflix on their TV at no additional cost.

Tags: breakingnews, e3-2008, netflix, XBLA

(Page 1) Reader Comments

jsn: Jul 14th 2008; 2:31PM

fantastic!

arrrgh: Jul 14th 2008; 2:31PM

sweeeeeeeeet

Shad3Wolf: Jul 14th 2008; 2:32PM

Major Nelson's twitter doesn't say anything about needing a netflix sub: http://twitter.com/majornelson/statuses/858255691

We need clarification!

Shad3Wolf: Jul 14th 2008; 2:42PM

Clarified: It IS an XBL and Netflix sub: http://twitter.com/majornelson/statuses/858269515

Eggy: Jul 14th 2008; 2:32PM

What's this netflix thing? Does it come in Europe?

Sandman: Jul 14th 2008; 3:42PM

It an american company has I know it still service North American alone. It may include HD will just have to see. But that would be great right now I just watch movies on my computer with Netflix. But it be nices to have it on a bigger screen and in HD. But I'm pretty sure there a simliar service in Europe that thay can partner up with

Korova *of the highlands*: Jul 14th 2008; 5:43PM

I'm gonna try this too...

Netflix is a dvd rental service by mail with no late fees. It also allows subscribers on demand viewing of some films through the internet. Windows only. No Mac love.

Now that on demand portion will come to xbx!! Yay! Xbox Mac (multiracial) families can have on demand fun. Hopefully, the HD versions of the movies will be streamed, cause that would be sweet.

You know, I really wanted this but thought it would never happen. Its one of those things that is too cool and complicated. But it did, its real! Wow!

Can you tell I am excited?

BrokenAbacus: Jul 15th 2008; 3:31AM

"What's this netflix thing? Does it come in Europe?"

maybe it comes in blueberry!

twostepp82: Jul 14th 2008; 2:32PM

Now, the question is, will Netflix enlarge its instant stream movie selection?

alejo699: Jul 14th 2008; 6:37PM

That's exactly what it means. Netflix wants nothing more than to be able to get rid of all its shipping centers and stream everything. It's just going to take some time.

Gus: Jul 14th 2008; 2:33PM

This means I'm getting a netflix account now :)

nightmare452: Jul 14th 2008; 2:37PM

Same here. Netflix account here I come (although I might just wait until it come out, but probably will get it anyway)

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Jul 14th 2008; 2:33PM

FUCK YES!!!!! I literally jumped up and fucking screamed for joy when I heard this. Also sharing movies with buddies? Can somebody say online movie night?

Pureshooter: Jul 14th 2008; 2:33PM

Um...f*ck yes.

Angel N.: Jul 14th 2008; 2:34PM

Wow! This is all kinds of awesome! No Microsoft Points for you, Microsoft!

Obie: Jul 14th 2008; 2:34PM

Of course anyone not living in the US will be shit outta luck.

NATO_Duke: Jul 14th 2008; 4:07PM

And how is this MS' fault? People need to stop getting pissy about things that are outside of the console makers control.

Obie: Jul 14th 2008; 4:10PM

I am a paying customer in a free country...I can bitch as much as I like. ;)

josh: Jul 14th 2008; 5:44PM

You are a paying Netflix and XBL customer? in that case, bitch away!

Obie: Jul 14th 2008; 5:49PM

I have an US Xbox, with XBL that I pay with my US credit card, it just sucks that half the content gets borked when I travel. I mean I can't even watch trailers on marketplace...friggin trailers!

Vcize: Jul 14th 2008; 2:35PM

Does this include HD? If so, that's huge. Otherwise...meh.

Mark: Jul 14th 2008; 3:04PM

Stop saying 'meh', it's really stupid.

Vegnagun bwf: Jul 14th 2008; 2:36PM

This is mind-blowing. Are they saying that I can have watch any movie I want, instantly, as long as I have a netflix account? That's ridiculous.

JJ: Jul 14th 2008; 2:41PM

Nice, isn't home supposed to have the functionality to watch movies with friends that are in your "home" space as well?

Either way neat on both ends. I dont quite care for netflix (I have a PC hooked up to my TV if i need to stream anything), But for those that have that service, this is a nice coup on MS's part.

here's to hoping Sony and Ninty have some neat surprises on their end as well.

Anticrawl: Jul 14th 2008; 4:13PM

Both borrowed the idea from users in Second Life, been around for a while.

Bj Sisco: Jul 14th 2008; 2:43PM

Ye Ye Yeah!!!

The Aggie CEO: Jul 14th 2008; 2:43PM

dammit this sucks........

I remember Netflix saying they were coming to CONSOLES not CONSOLE........dammit this sucks..........

I use my PS3 for everything.......until this happened.........

Ordeith: Jul 14th 2008; 3:02PM

What? Why?

Aside fro Blu-Ray the 360 has always had the upper hand on media.

Better Steraming, better codec support, VMC extender capabilities. As a network attached Media streamer the 360 is very tough to beat.

Vidikron (FU): Jul 14th 2008; 3:15PM

My only problem with the 360 is the shitty limits on some of the file formats. For example, you're limited to 2-channel audio and 4 GB file size limits on MP4s. This means that MKVs can't easily be converted unless you want to live without the surround sound and having to split movied over 4 GB in size. You have to convert them to WMVs... which is a 12-24 hour transcode process depending on the power of your PC... and even then the transcode often fucks up in some way.

OTOH, you can use MKV2VOB to quickly remux most MKVs in minutes with no transcoding and full surround sound for the PS3. And the few that do require transcodes take 2-4 hours normally. And it works virtually every time.

For that reason my PS3 see far, far more use as a media player. My 360 still gets use though. I'm using it with vmcNetflix right now for Netflix content. With this new partnership though I'll be able to cut my PC out of the loop for the Netflix content.

The Aggie CEO: Jul 14th 2008; 3:32PM

Ordeith.........

have you heard of TVersity??????

it works BEAUTIFULLY........

I'd rather use that than Media center extender anyday

NotNormal23224: Jul 14th 2008; 3:38PM

@Vidikron (FU) Let me get this straight you criticize the 360's base software and then praise the PS3 for a third party app that still requires conversion for the files to be playable? Get real. I have both of the systems set up and as often as I wanted to just bring up my PS3 and play my video I've always run into the issue that more stuff just plays out of the gate straight off of my 360 than they do on my PS3. The limitations you speak of are on both platforms and made worse on the PS3 since less plays (at least from my video collection) without 3rd party apps. Third party apps run for both platforms and expand the flexibility of both of them but don't slam one platform when not running a 3rd party app by comparing it to the other when you are running one.

The Aggie CEO: Jul 14th 2008; 3:39PM

After months of speculation and rumors, Microsoft just announced that it's partnering with Netflix to allow Xbox 360 owners to stream movies from their Netflix queues for no extra charge. Microsoft says the 360 will be the only game system that allows Netflix access for no additional cost -- which isn't entirely accurate, since only Live Gold members will get access. Streaming movies can also be shared with your Live party, allowing you to watch content together. Users will have instant access to their Netflix instant access queues, but it's not clear what resolution the content will be streamed at -- we'd guess it's roughly the same DVD-quality res that Roku's Netflix streamer is getting for now, but hopefully that'll change when the service launches in the fall with the new dashboard.

Vidikron (FU): Jul 14th 2008; 3:53PM

@NotNormal

"Let me get this straight you criticize the 360's base software and then praise the PS3 for a third party app that still requires conversion for the files to be playable? Get real."

You're not understanding. BOTH require third party apps to convert MKVs and BOTH can play MP4s. For the 360 you likely want to use XenonMKV if you want to quickly convert MKVs to a playable format. But on the 360 you'll be limited to 2-channel audio and have a 4 GB file size limit unless you go through a VERY lenghty and semi-technical conversion process to WMV. The PS3 does NOT have these limitation .

"The limitations you speak of are on both platforms and made worse on the PS3 since less plays (at least from my video collection) without 3rd party apps."

No, they aren't. You have no clue what you're talking about here.

Do you ever deal with any MKVs? If you do and you have both systems you're selling yourself short by playing them on the 360. MKV2VOB vs XenonMKV. Look them up, learn them, and then ditch XenonMKV when you realize the PS3 is much better for converted MKVs.

GamerG: Jul 14th 2008; 2:43PM

This is the greatest thing in the history of the world!

Well at least since the iphone launch last friday

Organic_Shadow: Jul 14th 2008; 2:49PM

They didn't say anything about exclusivity. Quote it or remove the word from the title.

Seeing as netflix streaming uses streamed ms-drm, which the PS3 can also do, I fail to see how this would stay exclusive to the 360 even if it is.

Korova *of the highlands*: Jul 14th 2008; 5:52PM

VIDEO GAME THEATER
Presents:

..........The Negotiation..........

- Sony, I will give you my drm license if you give me your d-pad patent.
- No, fuck you, microdick.
- Fine, Sony, I dont care about your beedee anyway. PHTTHRRR! *sticks tong out

The End

Robert: Jul 14th 2008; 2:50PM

I love it free sure as long as you have a netflix account. I have one and you can get only a limited amount of downloads per month and it isnt in hd either. I am sure some software will convert if you have it. I see the logic this will force all those with 20 gig hard drives to purchase the 60 or 120 upgrades more profit for MS or even better for MS if all those people purchase the new 60 gig. GREED GREED and more GREED. But i am sure that some will fall victom to this. Not my family.

George McBain: Jul 14th 2008; 2:58PM

I am guessing you mean the instant watch feature? It USED to have limited download viewing time, but it is all free now, so there are no limits. I have the 1 movie at a time sub plan and can watch an infinite amount on the internet. Second, just like with the instant watch, it will most likely be streaming (ie. no downloading) ... essentially, this is what the "Netflix box" does right now.

Ordeith: Jul 14th 2008; 3:05PM

If it was all greed MS wouldn't let you store your media on your PC, Homer server, or NAS and still allow the 360 access to it.

Because you can do this, and since you don't have to "install" games, the 360 needs a lot less hard drive space than its competition to be useful.

Maurice M: Jul 14th 2008; 3:11PM

Where is the "exclusively to Xbox 360" part?

XIII: Jul 14th 2008; 3:16PM

Now, if only netflix will start renting games too...

ogvor: Jul 14th 2008; 3:18PM

I screamed out loud when I read this. YAHOO!

Kaz: Jul 14th 2008; 3:20PM

Is this going to be streaming or HD? Streaming is worthless.

ExMcCloud: Jul 14th 2008; 3:21PM

This may be the biggest move in the movie format war....This literally makes every movie that releases available in HD to the Xbox 360....Wow...Thats all I can say.....Digital media FTW

blahblahbloo: Jul 14th 2008; 6:45PM

That's far from true. Only movies which Netflix has permission to stream will be available. At the top of my current queue, for instance, we have to go down to number 19 before we get one that's available for instant viewing, and half of the first 18 are available on Blu-ray. That's not representative or anything (I put the Blu-rays up on top on purpose), but it does show that there are movies available in HD that won't be on this service.

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus): Jul 14th 2008; 3:22PM

This is only awesome if it includes HD content. Otherwise, it's not really that big of a deal- I could watch streamed content from Netflix on my TV already.

Korova *of the highlands*: Jul 14th 2008; 5:58PM

Well, you are a cool cat , Tez.

I doubt it will be HD. How would all those XBLM movies feel, if there was a practically free HD service? Although, maybe my Gold member is worth all that.

It'll most likely stream (which I dont mind).

If the quality is good and it doesnt interrupt and doesnt take two days to DL, this has just justified my xbox purchase twice over.

Can I haz later this yera NAW!?

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus): Jul 14th 2008; 7:03PM

I guess the XBLM movies would feel stupid, which is what they are.

ZeroCorpse: Jul 14th 2008; 3:37PM

I mentioned this at another blog, but it bears repeating:

1. The Roku box is silent. The 360 has fan noise.
2. The Roku box uses 5W of electricity. The 360 is well over that.
3. The Roku box is small. Like a stack of about 6 CDs.
4. The Roku box requires no additional fees. The 360 requires Gold membership.
5. The Roku box has a great remote control. The 360's would be extra $$.
6. The Roku box is only $99 to replace when it wears out. 360 is $300.
7. The Roku box is easy to operate. Even wives and parents can use it.

While I applaud Microsoft and Netflix for making this deal, I have to give it a major thumbs-down for the requirement of being a Gold member. After some awful billing problems (fraudulent charges, poor customer service, etc.) I won't give Microsoft another credit card number or subscribe to Live Gold ever again. Your mileage may vary, but I think asking you to pay $8 a month on top of your Netflix subscription is NOT a good deal when the Roku box requires no such additional subscription.

I like my 360, but I hate Live's customer service. It's not worth it to put up with that in order to get the same thing I get for free from my Roku box.

JT: Jul 14th 2008; 6:26PM

8. The Roku box costs an additional $100 when I already have a 360.

9. I already have a Live Gold sub, so zero additional dollars there.

10. Already have a Logitech remote as well.

I think that at least 1 and 2 describe a decent amount of people's situations. Basically all we have to do is sit back and wait for the update.

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