Netflix streaming movies hit Microsoft's Xbox 360 (legitimately)

Microsoft on Monday morning announced upcoming support for movie rental service Netflix as part of its system software update for the Xbox 360 (see live blog here). Console owners who are also Netflix subscribers will be able to take advantage of Netflix's Watch Now streaming movie service on their consoles without any additional software or hardware.

It's actually not the first time 360 owners have been able to accomplish such a feat. Several third-party tools that use a workaround in Windows Media Center's plug-in architecture have let you do this with just a small hit in performance. However, such a system required users to have a linked-up Media Center PC in the first place. With the new system, no new hardware is required.

Xbox 360 users will also be able to view streaming movies with other people on their friends list as part of the newly updated party chat system. This means you can watch and control a streaming movie with up to seven other people as part of a party--something not possible on the browser-based iteration (unless you've got a couch that is). Similar efforts from Lycos and YouTube have proven fun to play with.

roundup
Complete E3 coverage

Expo is no longer a huge free-for-all,
but that doesn't mean Microsoft
and others aren't making noise.

What makes the move interesting is that the Xbox 360 does not currently have a Web browser built in, unlike competing consoles from Sony and Nintendo. Netflix's Watch Now service requires the use of Internet Explorer, which means Microsoft has likely ported an iteration of IE over to the 360 for the sake of making all of this work.

Update: Microsoft has updated Xbox.com with further details and the full press release. Some tidbits worth noting:

• Use of streaming Watch Now videos on your Xbox 360 requires both a Netflix membership as well as an Xbox Live Gold membership, which runs about $5 a month.


• You can mark Watch Now movies or shows in your browser and they'll show up in your media list back on the Xbox. Likewise you can browse and rate the catalog right from the console.


• Microsoft says the movies should start playing in 30 seconds or less--the same as the desktop version.


• Users can fast-forward, rewind, and pause videos using the controller or a compatible media remote.


• The Watch Now library is the same as what's available on the desktop and on other set-top streaming devices.

[kwyrt]

I read somewhere else that you have to have an Xbox live Gold account in order to take advantage of this. Anyone know if that is true or not?

[hawaiiinsomniac]

Yup, you sure do.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080714/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_netflix;_ylt=AnAhxpzsSND2JrbYNUWLY9gjtBAF

[extirpator]

So to summarize: For this service you need to spend $50 For xbox Live gold and an additional $108 for netflix for a year's worth of service. I'd suggest people try the straight xbox live movie content first as I've herd the next flix streaming content is not that great quality, and worse than the current live offerings.

[hawaiiinsomniac]

This is awesome news, I heard this on E3. Another delay for purchasing a PS3. Well, that and FF XIII is coming to the 360.

[RRosal]

Hope you're ready for either a big install to your 360's HDD and/or multiple DVD disc-swapping for the monstrosity that FFXIII will be. The 360 is showing its age and I have no doubt that Microsoft will be readying its new console following their standard 4-5 year console lifespan plan. The PS3 still has big headroom for the next couple of years so meh.

[stepyourgameup]

Just let me know when I can stream Bluray to my computer/game console.

[armoredcore2006]

when you can stream Bluray to your computer/game console? or you mean HD content? By the way for all of you talking smack about microsoft, if you dont like it dont buy it. Stay with whatever you like and keep your negativity to urself.

[Macajuel]

Honestly Microsoft....................... why should we need to have XBox Live Gold Membership to access this service? We gotta pay for Netflix then pay for XBL Gold as well?

Believe it or not folks but there are still gamers like myself who are not interested in online multiplayer. Don't get me wrong, I do play a bit of online multiplayer from time to time but hardly enough to justify a Gold Membership.

I came very close to buying an Xbox just for this service but I'm gonna settle for the $100 Roku Netflix box instead.

[chrispgriffin]

So if I don't have a Netflix account and my buddy does, can I still join him as a "party" and watch a Netflix movie , or do all members of the party have to have a Netflix account?

[RRosal]

Why are additions like this surprising at all considering the XBox 360 is nothing more than a glorified Direct X PC in a shiny white/black console box? Just one of the reasons I don't need an XBox 360, I already have a decent running PC to do everything the 360 is already doing without the need to sacrifice space. Nice try, Microsoft, I'm moving on...

[extirpator]

So to summarize: For this service you need to spend $50 For xbox Live gold and an additional $108 for netflix for a year's worth of service. I'd suggest people try the straight xbox live movie content first as I've herd the next flix streaming content is not that great quality, and worse than the current live offerings. For videophiles neither of these compare well against blu-ray. I really want them to offer a blu-ray add on like the HD-DVD one. These digital down load offerings, so far, imo are over priced and over restricted.. I think the same of the new offerings on PSN as well.

[BCF1968]

Just to let you know that FF XIII won't be coming out for the 360 until at least 2010. By then MS will be focusing on the XBOX 720.

[BCF1968]

For the same $158 that a XBL Gold an Netflix subscription would cost you to get the "free" service, I can rent at least 40 movies from Amazon Unbox. Often Amazon Unbox has newer movies for rent for even less on special and older movies are typically cheaper. So you could actually rent 50 or more movies. That's one a week and actually more often than I rent movies anyways.

[extirpator]

I just did a calculation and realised for the entire price of the netflix service on XBL you could rent roughly 40 movies on psn with no additional fees... Seeing as the xbox 360 with a hard drive is $299+$158 anualy=$457 for the first year+ 158 per year after, and a ps3 is $399+ downloadable movie rental fee=$399+ downloadable movie rental fees, and the ps3 has blu-ray built in. I would have to point to the ps3 as the better offering for a media center.

[Tinman52]

If you don't find value in a Live! gold membership, then that's fine. That fee isn't going to change.

However, I like the integrated Live! environment into every game released. I like that all games are required to have achievements. I like that MS puts time, effort and money into continually maintaining and updating their online presence. So, in that way, I find that a $50/year gold plan has a lot of value. In addition, $5/mo or $8/mo is not a lot. I was thinking doing Netflix recently as I've gotten into watching Rome on-demand.

Crave is great for the way they blog. It brings out a lot of negativity for the most part. However, most of the negative responses are really undeserved. This is going to be a good move for both Netflix and MS.

[robb17]

I currently have an Xbox live gold and netflix account but I heard that you have to have Windows Vista's Windows media center to get it to work. Is that right? And does anyone know if there's a Windows media center plug in for Windows Xp or does it-(Windows media center) have pre-intstalled?

[TigerShok]

When will they have the update?

[chrkeller]

I have an interest in the Netflix streaming package. As long as it plays without much problem I will be all over it. I do agree that we shouldn't be mandated to have XBL Gold, but check out Newegg, a year's subscription is $38. That isn't too bad.