Where would we be, as journalists and news consumers, without LinkedIn and its members' penchant for listing upcoming projects and pending accomplishments well before the public relations gatekeepers are ready to officially announce them? This time around, we have Microsoft group product planner Praveen Rutnam's LinkedIn page to thank. Rutman's profile contained word that the company is apparently "develop[ing a] strategy to further monetize Xbox LIVE subscriber base that will be implemented for holiday 2012."
It's impossible to say what exact form this monetization strategy will take, and Microsoft hasn't immediately responded to a request for comment. That doesn't mean we can't start speculating wildly about it.
Perhaps Microsoft is planning a new, higher-priced premium tier for Xbox Live membership; one that offers subscribers discounted or free access to Xbox Live Arcade games, downloadable content, and online passes. Or maybe Microsoft will go the other way, offering a lower-priced tier below the current $59.99 annual Xbox Live Gold subscription that offers access to popular services like Netflix, Facebook, and Twitter without the online gaming capabilities. The change could even simply clear the way for Xbox Live to start offering those microtransaction-fueled free-to-play titles the industry seems so crazy about these days.
Whatever the change, Microsoft had better be careful not to make its current customers feel ripped off. When the company increased the annual fee for Xbox Live Gold by roughly 20 percent in the summer of 2010—the first such price increase since the system's launch in 2005—many gamers were quick to complain about price gouging and unreasonable fees.
(Tip via veteran Internet-scoop-finder supererogatory)
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