Xbox Live Gold subscribers will soon be the first gaming console owners able to access the Redbox Instant video streaming service.
On Tuesday, Microsoft’s Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb revealed the company’s plans in a blog post . Hyrb says the new feature will launch “in the very near future.”
News of Microsoft’s involvement in the RedBox Instant program was announced by GigaOM in November, although the deal was never confirmed.
Microsoft over the last decade has worked endlessly to turn the Xbox platform into a standard part of a users living room. Picking up a platform first showcases Microsoft’s commitment to the living room.
Unlike its competitors, Redbox is focusing only on videos, allowing TV streaming to remain in the background. The cost of the program is only $7.99 per month, and that deal includes three free Redbox rentals each month.
The hope for Microsoft is that users will take advantage of Redbox Instant on their Xbox 360 and then rent movies from Redbox consoles. Those rented movies can then be played via the users Xbox 360.
Microsoft is really pushing its “exclusive gaming and entertainment console launch partner” status. That push likely means other console owners will have to wait a decent amount of time because they can download the Redbox Instant software onto their alternative gaming consoles.
Last year, the Sony Playstation 3 was Netflix’s most connected device for network streaming. That fact was a likely reason Redbox Instant chose to attach itself to one of the best selling gaming consoles in the world.
