Microsoft has officially revealed details for its rumored All Access service. Bringing financing to the console sphere for the first time, Xbox All Access allows players to purchase not only an Xbox One S 1TB or Xbox One X 1TB, but also get a 24 months Xbox Game Pass (currently includes well over 100 games) and Xbox Live Gold online multiplayer membership, and pay them off with payments spread across two years.
The Xbox One X offer costs $34.99 per month with no upfront cost, while the Xbox One S costs a mere $21.99 per month for the same period. Remarkably, both deals are provided with an interest free repayment plan and in the case of the Xbox S package, players end up paying lower than the retail price of buying each part independently. The savings are in the magnitude of around $130.00, which is nothing to laugh at.
As it stands, the offer is only available in the US and will require a visit to one of a select Microsoft stores spread out across the county. Supplies are limited. To sign up players must apply for a Dell Preferred Account, which Microsoft describes as ‘a revolving line of credit which allows you to pay for your purchase all at once or gives you the flexibility to make monthly payments’, then undergo an immediate check to ensure they are eligible.
From there the monthly payments are made as you would any zero-interest loan similar to those widely used by mobile operators throughout the world. The remaining cost can also be paid at any time without incurring fees.
Other than providing a great, money saving deal, Xbox All Access may also be harbinger of a shift in how consoles are sold and distributed to consumers. With prices invariably rising with each new generation, offering spread out payment options may be the perfect way to increase overall sales. In Microsoft’s case, All Access may be exactly what the doctor ordered as the company still continues to negate the effects of a botched launch and the overwhelming dominance of the rival PlayStation 4.
