Xbox Live Pricing and Features

When Xbox 360 launches in North America on Nov. 22, 2005, consumers there will be able to purchase Xbox Live subscriptions in several new ways, including cheaper short-duration subscriptions and cards similar to prepaid telephone calling cards. In addition, a credit card will no longer be required to purchase Xbox Live subscriptions through retailers. These changes are meant to attract gamers with limited budgets, such as teens and college students.

The following chart shows how Xbox Live will be sold in North America. Prices have not changed for the one-year subscription to the full service, which costs US$50 without a headset or US$70 for a kit including a headset. Microsoft has also added three-month and one-month subscription levels. All prices are in U.S. dollars.

The Xbox 360 will launch in Europe on Dec. 2 and Japan on Dec. 10, but as of press time, Microsoft had not announced Xbox Live pricing or packaging in those geographies.

Xbox Live SKU

Features

Price