Gamers to pay for key Xbox One features

Key features of Microsoft's Xbox One
console, which is expected to go on sale in
November, will only be available with an
annual subscription.
The requirement covers recording and sharing
of gameplay videos, making Skype video calls
and using a service that finds gaming
opponents.
An Xbox Live Gold account that currently costs
$60 (£40) will be needed for all these features.
Sony PlayStation 4 owners will also have to pay
for some online services.
However, the president of Sony Computer
Entertainment confirmed, via a post on
Twitter, that its machine would not restrict
games recording and streaming features to
paid subscribers.
Watch and recommend
Microsoft revealed the requirement in an
update to webpages detailing the Xbox One's
features.
Sony confirmed it would not restrict games
recording to paid subscribers via a tweet
The webpage shows that, as with the current
Xbox 360, a Live Gold account is needed if
owners want to use their new console for
online multiplayer gaming, watch Netflix or
similar streaming services and to browse the
web via their TV.
In addition, on the Xbox One the annual
subscription will let players share videos with
friends. The console records a rolling sample
of a player's previous five minutes gameplay to
make it easier to share key moments.
The payment will also let owners chat to
friends via video on Skype and use the
OneGuide and SmartMatch services.
OneGuide analyses what Xbox One owners
usually watch and recommends TV shows and
YouTube content to match. The SmartMatch
service links players with other gamers of a
similar ability to ensure they are not
outclassed in multiplayer matches.
In June, Sony revealed a change to its previous
policy which gave all owners of its PlayStation
3 console access to online multiplayer games.
With the PlayStation 4, owners will have to pay
$50 (£32) a year for a PlayStation Plus
account to do the same.