With the next-gen Xbox being revealed in less than a week, many people are speculating and making wish lists for the newest Xbox and its features. Until we see the next-gen Xbox for ourselves, everything about the console, from its hardware to even the official name of the device, is still unknown. With several rumored new features, such as greater Kinect support, making waves, many are forgetting classic features such as Xbox Live could be getting overhauls as well. Here is a wish list of features that we hope the next version of Xbox Live will possess for the next-gen system.
1. A Rotation of Free Games- One thing that PlayStation Plus has over Xbox Live is that the Sony paid subscription plan offers gamers the chance to play several different titles for free every month. These range from classics from bygone eras to newer, more current titles. With the new Xbox, hopefully Microsoft will reach into the vault of current, indie, and retro titles and offer players a similar deal when signing up for Xbox Live.
2. Multiple Subscription Levels- This ties in with list item number one. In order to play online, gamers have to pay as much as they would for a new game every year. Most other platforms do not charge anything in order to have access to playing games online. Instead, perhaps Xbox Live could offer multiple tiers of subscription like a cable company so gamers could chose between a basic service or one that could offer free games or special features.
3. Easier Messaging Options- Sometimes, it is very difficult for players in the middle of a game to message somebody or respond to messages, simply because players have to stop what they are doing, go into the menus, type or speak their message, then send it. Anyone who has played competitive multiplayer knows that doing all this can lead to being killed or losing a match. Perhaps the new Xbox Live could allow for message pop ups that players can respond to directly, possibly using the Kinect or headset to send voice messages in game, without having to pause the action.
4. Revamping of Player's Profile- When Players want to find out more about another player or want to see what their friends have been up to, gamers have to go through several different menus and lists to get to the information they want. Microsoft should implement a better public profile than somebody's gamertag, gamerpoints, and profile picture. Gamers should be allowed to show off more info quickly, such as achievements they are proud of, what games they play the most frequently, and other relevant information. Gamers should also be able to organize their friend list into different categories, such as personal friends, people met online, family, and other such categories to make looking up information about people on their friends list easier.
5. Free Services/Content for Members Other Than Games- If Microsoft does not go the PlayStation Plus rout and offer free games to Xbox Live members, then they should offer other special deals. Free music downloads on Zune, free movie streaming, free app downloads, anything to try and make the Xbox Live cost feel more like a special service, rather than a costly burden on gamers.