Twitter and Facebook Are Only Free to Gold Subscribers on Xbox LIVE

For those people who can’t stand to spend more than 20 minutes on Xbox LIVE because it means being away from Twitter or Facebook must have been delighted at Microsoft’s E3 announcement that those two social networks would be integrated into Xbox LIVE. Well, I hope your enthusiasm has died down a little because there’s a catch. Two of the greatest icons of internet freedom, both in price and liberties, are not quite so free when it comes to Xbox LIVE.

Microsoft added a note to the end of the of the press release announcing Xbox 360 price cuts that said, “Xbox Live Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available.” Sounds oddly exclusive for free internet services like Twitter and Facebook. But it wasn’t a typo; Microsoft later confirmed that indeed the social networks would only be available to those who paid for the monthly Gold Membership. The full Microsoft response is below:

"Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will be free to Gold members, with a free trial period also available for Silver members. Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will offer a truly one-of-a-kind social experience, completely optimized for the TV and seamlessly integrated onto your console. Add to that exclusive access to Last.fm, Netflix instant streaming, demos, trailers and discounts, plus the best multiplayer gaming network on the planet, and we're confident Xbox LIVE Gold memberships is hands-down the best value in home entertainment. We're committed to adding new features and value for our Gold members, and will continue to do so."

The free trial period for Silver subscribers doesn’t even begin to make up for the injustice of having to pay extra for free services. Gold membership might be a great deal because of some of the other services, but not for Twitter and Facebook. Sorry Microsoft, I think I’ll stick to my PC for that.

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