Most people, when they buy smartphones, don’t pay the whole $1000 or whatever for their iPhone upfront- usually, they pay a small amount down, and then commit to staying with their carrier over a period of two years, subscribed to a certain data plan, paying the phone off monthly in more palatable installments.
This is a kind of payment plan that Microsoft has already experimented with in the past on the Xbox 360, with limited success. Back in the day, Sega also tried this with the Dreamcast. Now, it looks like Microsoft may be gearing up to try this again. According to Windows Central, Xbox All Access will be a contract based payment plan, where users commit to subscribing to two years of Xbox Live and Game Pass, and get either an Xbox One S or Xbox One X for $22 or $35 a month respectively.
At the end of the two years, you have paid off the Xbox, and you get to keep it. It belongs to you. It’s yours. You can also choose to not subscribe to the services anymore.
It’s an interesting idea, and I can see why Microsoft would want to try this out- with their focus on Game Pass and Xbox Live, they would want to get users subscribed to the service (which would also give them more power in negotiations with third parties about getting games on Game Pass, for example). Meanwhile, users can get an Xbox for cheap, and not have to worry about paying for new games thanks to Game Pass.
I get it- I just wonder if it will actually work. I guess if Microsoft ever actually unveils it officially, and goes through with it, we will know.