Register

I agree with the Privacy Policy

The Wall Street Journal

Microsoft Makes a Risky Xbox Bet

January 02, 2006

The Wall Street Journal Microsoft's ability to convince more users to pay for the online service will play an important role in the Xbox's profitability. While online gaming is growing in popularity – U.S. revenue is expected to climb to $1.6 billion this year from $1.1 billion in 2005, according to Dallas research firm Park Associates – the concept remains unfamiliar to many users of console machines like the Xbox. And while many of the most popular PC games incorporate online play, such features are often included free of charge. An exception is multiplayer PC games designed for thousands of players, in which publishers typically charge a monthly subscription fee of about $15.

From the article "Microsoft Makes a Risky Xbox Bet," by David Kesmodel.

Previously In The News

Google’s Chromecast Overtakes Apple TV in Video Streaming, Survey Says

Google’s Chromecast stick has overtaken Apple's Apple TV set-top box as one of the most popular Internet video streaming devices in the U.S., according to results of a survey released Tuesday....

Are Wireless Prepaid Plans Best?

While prepaid looks attractive, switching isn't always easy because, in part, people often have multiple users on their account. Carriers have made group plans more attractive—AT&T has said that 90...

Is Now the Time to Buy a 4K TV Set?

But supporters argue that a 4K television set, given its ability to improve current HD picture quality, among other reasons, is a better purchase even at today's prices than a large-screen HDTV, wh...

Silicon Valley Races to Make TV the Next Frontier for Apps

Technological advances, including faster processors, are fueling hopes that TVs and set-top boxes can do much more. For starters, Nvidia's Mr. Huang and others say, they can help bring gaming to a...

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
...
14
15
›