14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is at the moment issuing an official service alert for both the Xbox One and the Xbox 360, concerning access to Netflix and to Twitch streaming, which are currently unavailable because of a series of unspecified reasons.
The team states on the official site that “Xbox members, we know some of you are unable to watch television seasons that you’ve already purchased from Xbox Video, and we’re diligently working to correct this issue right away. We appreciate your patience during this process and will update you again when we have more information.”
It’s unclear when the company plans to restore full functionality to both Netflix and Twitch streaming on the Xbox One and the 360.
Gaming-related services for the Xbox Live are not at the moment affected in any way.
The company adds, “We are currently working on this with our partner and will get it resolved as quickly as possible. Thanks so much for your patience while we work. We'll update you as soon as we have more information.”
Earlier in the day, the team at EA Sports announced that FIFA 14 was having connectivity issues on the Xbox One and on the 360, but it is not clear whether the two problems are linked in any way.
Microsoft says that it will offer an update to all those affected as soon as it manages to solve them or can offer details on how long the process will take.
Xbox Live is crucial for both the Xbox One and the 360 because it allows gamers to connect with each other, get access to new content, and play multiplayer matches.
Downtime for the service can be a big long-term problem for the company, especially if it affects users for more than a few hours at a time.
Microsoft is at the moment trying to boost sales of its next-gen console, and a stable Xbox Live service can be a major selling point for potential customers.
The Xbox One will be delivered in September in a number of secondary markets, and the company has confirmed that it will offer some games and content at lower prices.
Since early June, the retail package no longer includes the Kinect motion-tracking system and the official price has been dropped to 399 dollars or Euro, the same as that of the rival PlayStation 4 from Sony.