Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

Xbox Live Reaches 1 Million Users

By David Worthington, BetaNews

July 15, 2004, 10:33 PM

Microsoft has signed up more than 1 million users to its Xbox Live online gaming service - a feat the software giant boasts it has accomplished in less time than HBO, America Online and TiVo. Formerly known by the moniker Tsunami during its beta phases, the new Xbox Live service has inundated users with features like online storage, virtual tournaments, the ability to send in-game voice messages and organize into teams, as well as integration with MSN Messenger.

Add a Comment (7 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By M3wThr33

posted Jul 16, 2004 - 4:00 PM

Since when is a major feature of your hardware only garnering 8% (1/15 million) of your population considered a success? It's not even 10% yet.

My 3 roommates all had Xboxes. One never got XBL, the other two let their subscriptions expire. One because he discovered online pc gaming was better fo r him and the other because there was never enough people and it was too laggy on the games he wanted. (Capcom VS Snk 2 EO)

Score: 0

By dd51

posted Jul 25, 2004 - 8:40 AM

anecdotal "evidence" such as your story about 3 friends has no relevance here...it's pretty clear that a million people have signed up and and use the service almost 2 years after start up...what's so odd or hard to understand about that?

Score: 0

By pliebrand

posted Jul 16, 2004 - 8:23 AM

I use XBox Live and I love it -- yes cheating is an issue, but that is why you play in leagues where cheating does not occur!

Well Done MS!

Score: 0

By deadmonkey

posted Jul 16, 2004 - 4:23 AM

I owned an Xbox with Xbox Live in the beta process however sold my console soon after as there were no games on it. However Xbox Live is the best online service. I have used Sony's system and wasn't all that impressed with it. I think the companies having to support themselves will cause problems down the road. I own a GameCube so no online play me anytime soon :( Oh well I have Zelda and that is all I care about *g*

Score: 0

By wormeyman

posted Jul 16, 2004 - 3:15 AM

Don't own an xbox but the fact that xbox users can play each other on-line just like us pc gamers is pretty cool...

probably a lot less cheating on the xbox too :D

Score: 0

By weehappypixie

posted Jul 16, 2004 - 8:13 AM

Yeah it is good news on the 1 million users however I hardly go on now due to the amount of cheating that does go on.

A lot of folk use action replay to cheat and its not fair.

My young kid bought GT2 as his mate got it 2 days before hand. Then when he went on to play together found his mate had the highest, fastest car. He used Action Replay to load in a saved game found on the net. I think it spoils the gameplay a lot.

Anyway, just having a moan...

Good luck with the next Million users.

John

Score: 0

By DJInsomniac

posted Jul 16, 2004 - 4:44 PM

Things like that happen all the time, on Xbox and PC, almost no way to get around it unless you find good people to play with. Stick with the players that show great skill without cheating, invite them to a game, and most likely they will invite more people.

There ya go, a game with no cheating. Or just searching throughout the games, your bound to find a lobby without cheating.

Score: 0

Nov 21 - 6:51 PM ET Coalition urges better laws for e-mail and cell phone privacy

Nov 21 - 6:42 PM ET How is Internet advertising faring in this bad economy?

Nov 21 - 6:15 PM ET From out of the Amazon Cloud, an AWS winner emerges

Nov 21 - 5:20 PM ET Mufin music finder enters public beta, adds widgets

Nov 21 - 5:01 PM ET Google launches its SearchWiki semantics plug-in

Nov 21 - 4:57 PM ET Asus previews a slimmer, less costly Eee PC

Nov 21 - 4:32 PM ET New Adobe Media Player ushers in AIR 1.5

Nov 21 - 2:11 PM ET AT&T to add Pantech's low-cost C630 phone to 3G lineup

Nov 21 - 1:11 PM ET iPhone gets firmware 2.2 update

Nov 21 - 11:51 AM ET The Dell surprise: Higher earnings on lower revenue