Microsoft has always locked Xbox owners into its Gold subscription service to access streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu, but that might be finally changing soon. According to a report from Ars Technica, Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners will “soon no longer need a paid subscription” to access Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming apps. The change could come as early as Microsoft’s E3 press event next month, a fitting stage for such an announcement.
We can report that multiple sources within Microsoft have been briefed on plans to make a long-awaited change to the Xbox Live Gold paywall for streaming media services. According to our sources, Xbox 360 and Xbox One users will soon no longer need a paid subscription to Xbox Live Gold to access Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming media apps. Additionally, we’ve been told that Xbox Live Gold may put other services behind the paywall to make up for this shift, though those sources could not confirm whether that includes existing services or if that only includes upcoming content like TV series from Xbox Entertainment Studios.
