Tech Blog

[#1]

Xbox LIVE prices are being hiked across the board... but unless you're buying your time by the month in Canada, you're not going to notice.

Canadian rates are staying static for all plans except the month to month rate, which is moving from $8.99 to $9.99. While that's not a great move, is anyone actually on a month-to-month plan? If so... for the love of Major Nelson... WHY?!

In Canada we've always paid more for LIVE (you're talking to a guy who subscribed day-one and has paid up ever since). Also, if you're in a multi-console household, the LIVE family pack comes out roughly around the same time, reducing your overhead to $25 per account. I'm not going to lie to you, I get the feeling that my three Halo co-op buddies and I are going to be on a single family pack bundle.

It may be a bad time to announce a price hike like this; expectations are running high for Halo Reach and this move will check that enthusiasm for some customers.

Expect Sony to trumpet back any time now. A suggested line: "We've increased PlayStation Network fees by 400%. 400% of nothing is still nothing."

[#2]

Re: Sony. They announced PSN Plus for ~$50/month, I believe.

[#3]

Er, I mean $50/year, not month. Hah.

[#4]

PSN plus is an optional service and doesn't include online play. Online play remains free on PSN.