Microsoft is preparing to launch a new music streaming service for its Xbox 360 console, dubbed Xbox Music, and we now know just how much it will cost.
We’ve heard whispers of a Spotify-like service coming to the console before, back when it went by the codename of ‘Woodstock’. Now it seems that the service is nearing its launch date, as screenshots detailing subscriptions, prices and t’s and c’s have been leaked online.
The prices have been revealed in a rather official manner, as a part of the Windows 8 Music app. Beta testers for the Xbox 360 will have also received a new update to the console’s dashboard, which adds in the Music feature and new-look interface.
Microsoft hasn’t yet officially revealed the service, but we now know that it will cost £8.99 per month, or £89.90 for an entire year. Subscriptions are known as ‘Music Passes’, and gamers will also require a Gold subscription to the Xbox LIVE service in order to stream tunes, which seems a little unfair when you’re paying out already for the privilege of listening to your music with Microsoft.
It’s also all but confirmed that Microsoft will offer an advert-supported free subscription model for the service, just as Spotify does now. It’s not yet clear whether the service will limit users to a certain number of listens per week or month, however.
The Xbox Music service looks set to integrate with other Windows products, including Windows 8 computers and tablets, and Windows Phones. Early screenshots of the service show cloud icons for playlists, meaning that you can share your jams automatically across multiple Windows devices using the same Windows Live ID.
A tipster for The Verge who has tested the service claims that background music is not supported; meaning that once you return to the dashboard or start a game, your music will stop. It’s understandable to cut out playback when entering a new game, but we’d like to be able to have background music while browsing through game demos, chatting to other gamers and such.
The service is expected to launch around the October 26th launch of Windows 8.
Would you subscribe, or would you rather stick to Spotify on your laptop or Last FM on your Xbox? Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.