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Love playing your Xbox 360 games online? Join the crew...and please have your credit card handy, because Microsoft would like to have a word with it.

Specifically, the word "more."
Xbox Live

On Monday, the company announced plans to raise the price of the Xbox Live Gold membership, making it the online network's first fee hike in its eight-year history. Beginning November 1, gamers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the U.K. will have to fork over at least $10 extra per year to enjoy the premium service, which is required for playing games with (or against) pals online.

In the U.S., the annual subscription plan -- once $49.99, soon to be $59.99 -- will remain far and way the most economical. The monthly plan will see a $2 bump ($9.99/month, or $120/year), while the three-month plan will jump $5 ($24.99/month, or $100/year).

Why the sudden hike? To Xbox Live spokesman Major Nelson, someone has to pay for all the stuff they keep adding to the network, right?

"Since launching Xbox LIVE in 2002 we have continually added more content and entertainment experiences for our members, while keeping the price the same," he said. "We’re confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry."

Well, that's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that Microsoft remains the only one of the big three console makers to charge a fee for online play. While Sony's recently-released "Playstation Plus" upgrade gives gamers access to premium content, playing games online is still entirely free for all users. And though the Wii has lagged behind in the online gaming field, the relatively few games that support online play don't cost players extra.

But with blockbuster multiplayer games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 selling like hotcakes on the 360, Microsoft hasn't had a hard time convincing users to pay up. According to Bloomberg, a good 25 million Xbox 360 owners went Gold in the last fiscal year, netting the company about $600 million in fees alone and accounting for roughly half of Microsoft's estimated $1.2 billion in revenue via the online service. With the Xbox 360 topping charts in July and surefire seller Halo: Reach arriving September 14th, the company might need to buy a bigger wallet.

It's not all doom and gloom for 360 gamers, however. In a half-hearted attempt to make amends for the rate increase, Microsoft is letting current U.S. Xbox Live Gold members lock in one more year of membership for $39.99, a $20 premium over the coming price. Not bad, but an even thriftier move is to snap up a few discounted pre-paid cards at online retailers like Amazon. Redeem one now, then save one for next year to renew at the discounted price again. Sneaky...and sure to vanish quickly, so hop to it.

Well that's why I say I LOVE MY PS3!!!! It's free to play on the net!! Bill Gates is still trying to rob you all of your money and dignity. Ya'll just keep shoveling him that money!!

now people know why i have a PS3.have to agree with bats about bill gates wanting your hard earned cash.my only gripe about the PS3 is not enough games i want to play and damn xbox looks like they have a lot more cool games exclusive to their system.

I have a xbox but i hardly play it and for sure wouldnt pay to play online.Hell I dont really play online much with my ps3 but I love the fact when I do...its free.

Yeah that's bogus. I don't go online with my 360 because of this. And there used to be limited free stuff you could do online, but that seems to be gone too now.

I pay about £4 for 3 months for Gold Membership so how much will that be in November?

I only have a silver membership on the 360. I don't do online play.
Could be worse though, they could realize some people view it as an "essential service" and Xbox could have easily charged an extra $20 for the year and people would still pay it.

I know its pricey, but I finally have Hydro Thunder on a gaming system, so for that and one or 2 others...I'll renew at the 39.99 for one year. PS3 may have more details and crisper looking avatars, but the ability to download more titles rules on xbox.

I will be paying £5.99 now so not much of a price increase.

Last year and early this year, they had promotions to add a month for $1... that helped me out, and also the free month I got from sending my box in to get fixed.. and the year membership I got for Xmas last year.

It is sad that the price is going up, but what they say is true, they haven't raised the price since it was released, so I guess that's a good thing. Lets just hope it's not like the stamp and it becomes a yearly thing.

I dont see it being a problem until they do it again.Then I can see people getting upset.

I did the 39.99/year, so it saves money over time. Besides, online playing is too fun...especially now that I am home a lot more, not by choice.