It lets you play games against other people online as well as download demos, trailers, and even full games in the Xbox Live Arcade. You get to choose a nickname (called a gamertag) which is how you’re known to other people in any games you play. You can keep friends lists to stay in touch with real-life friends or new people you meet online you like to play with. Xbox Live Gold is a subscription-based service that can be purchased for one month, three-month, and one-year periods. You can either buy subscription cards at retail stores or you can use your credit card on the console itself to sign up. You need an Xbox 360 or Xbox One, as well as a broadband internet service provider, to use it. There are two levels of service. The free level, previously called Xbox Live Silver, lets you download things from the Xbox Marketplace; chat with friends; use apps such as Netflix, ESPN, and many others; and share your gamer profile with other users. You can even chat in groups and access online multiplayer features for free-to-play games. However, you can’t play most games online without an Xbox Live Gold subscription.
Xbox Live Gold Subscription and Gift Cards
Buying things on Xbox One (and Xbox 360 now) is done in good ol’ local currency, so no more trying to figure out how much 800 Microsoft Points really costs. If you see a game priced at $10, it costs $10, which is much simpler. This means that instead of buying Microsoft Points at retailers, you can now buy Microsoft Gift Cards in various amounts. You can also buy Xbox Live Gold subscription cards at retailers.
PayPal
We highly recommend you use the gift and subscription cards noted above instead of putting your credit card info on your Xbox network account. Basically, if you don’t put your credit card info on your account, there’s nothing for hackers to potentially steal. Microsoft has greatly upped the security on Xbox network accounts over the last few years, so getting hacked isn’t as common as it used to be (it was never exactly common, though, just to be clear), but it’s better to be safe. You do still have to put some form of payment option into your account, however, and we recommend using PayPal. It offers an extra couple of layers of safety and security on top of what Microsoft already does to keep your information secure.
title: “What Is The Xbox Network " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Jessica Sosa”
Free Xbox Network Features
After you log in to your Xbox console and connect with Xbox Network, you must create a profile and a Gamertag. After that, you can take advantage of the many features that come with your free Xbox Network membership:
Enjoy music, sports, and premiere entertainment apps. Use Microsoft Edge and Skype on your TV. Earn achievements and improve your Gamerscore. Preview upcoming games. Access beta versions of games. Make a friends list. Download games and other add-ons from the Xbox Marketplace. Exchange text and voice messages with other Xbox Network users. Join a gaming community. Party chat with other Xbox Network members. Play multiplayer in free-to-play games.
Xbox Network vs. Xbox Live Gold
While Xbox Network provides everyone with the aforementioned benefits, playing online requires an Xbox Live Gold membership for most games. Other benefits of Xbox Live Gold include exclusive demos and members-only sales, while Microsoft’s Deals With Gold web page features discounts of up to 75 percent off for select games, add-ons, and other items. Every month, the Games With Gold program offers Xbox Live Gold members free games. In the past, the selections have included Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Hitman: Blood Money, Rayman Legends, Halo 3, Gears of War 3, and many more. The Games With Gold feature practically pays for the entire Xbox Live Gold subscription by giving you hundreds of dollars worth of free games throughout the year.
Xbox Network Streaming Apps
In the past, free Xbox Network members couldn’t use video streaming apps such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, WWE Network, Twitch, or VUDU. Now, those apps are available to everyone, though you still must pay any fees that individual services charge.
