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FEATURED VOXPOP nick_olsen
Welcome home, Mario; we’ve missed you!
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Posted on 05/13/13
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GAMING NEWS

Skype May Replace Xbox Live Chat For Next-Gen Consoles

Posted on Wednesday, January 16 @ 13:56:29 Eastern by

In a day already full of consolidation, Microsoft will be putting Skype on the pedestal by "consolidating all their communications technology" into the platform, according to an article by CVG.

According to a source the article cites, that might have us "jump to the conclusion that we'll see asynchronous voice and video messages in the next-gen Xbox Live." This wouldn't be too surprising given that Microsoft acquired Skype for nearly $8.5 billion two years ago, but what will be surprising is if this is a sign that the next Xbox will have free online service.

Would you mind using Skype instead of Xbox Live?


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Comments
  • 213EDD
    213EDD

    Joined: Sep 2007
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
    Given the monopolistic stranglehold that service providers have on the United States, this seems problematic for any futuristic console technology
  • sandineyes
    sandineyes

    Joined: May 2008
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
    The entire point of creating a console is to create a monopolistic stranglehold on a video game platform, so I'm not sure what you mean.

    As an aside, I've always found it so stupid that Microsoft is forced to leap through hoops in Europe just because they packaged a free web browser with Windows. Part of me wishes they would just sell the OS without any browsers at all. That would show the Europeans why having a browser packaged with an OS is so useful.
  • 213EDD
    213EDD

    Joined: Sep 2007
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
    Internet service. Not them.
  • elmoreoocyte
    elmoreoocyte

    Joined: Apr 2012
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
    Unsurprising since MicroSoft is finally phasing out MSN because of the Skype purchase.
  • napsterxxl
    napsterxxl

    Joined: Mar 2006
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
    F*ck Skype. that is all.
  • Sourdeez
    Sourdeez

    Joined: Feb 2012
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
    Makes sense, They killed windows messenger now and forced those onto skype. Meanwhile I cant even get skype to run correctly for me on windows 8.
  • Chunibrow
    Chunibrow

    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
    The key word in your problem is "windows 8"
  • De-Ting
    De-Ting

    Joined: Nov 2006
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 5:38 pm
    That's funny right there.
  • Sourdeez
    Sourdeez

    Joined: Feb 2012
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 6:27 pm
    It truly is. And for anyone who thinks its appalling for microsoft to not even give the option for the original start menu there is a free program called "classic Shell" which will restore it for you.
  • used44
    used44

    Joined: Mar 2002
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 3:47 pm
    This article makes a lot of leaps. This indicates a possibly free service? How? Using Skype instead of Xbox Live? I guess you mean just the chat functions.

    And can't you already send and receive voice and video messages on Xbox Live?
  • Nick_Tan
    Nick_Tan

    Joined: Jul 2006
    Posted: Jan 17th, 2013 at 10:58 am
    It's true that it would be unlikely. That's why I said it would be surprising if it was a sign. If Microsoft chooses to use Skype, it will lessen the value of Xbox Live as a whole and will make Xbox Live owners question further the purpose for the $59.99 annual fee.
  • WILLS_COOL_MODE
    WILLS_COOL_MODE

    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posted: Jan 16th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
    "but what will be surprising is if this is a sign that the next Xbox will have free online service."

    Well it's Microsoft, so if anything I wouldn't be surprised if it just meant we'll have to start paying for Skype.

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