April 9th 2012 6:25 am PT

Netflix Update now available on Xbox LIVE

Good news for Xbox LIVE Gold members and Netflix subscribers. Next time you access the app through Xbox LIVE, you’ll enjoy the following new features:

  • Skip Forward/Skip Back allows you to move through movies quickly and between TV episodes easily. And with Kinect, just use your voice or the wave of your hand to activate this function.
  • Zoom function lets you enlarge letterboxed video content to full screen.
  • Better color contrast makes content more vivid and black levels darker.
  • Single sign on with cloud profile makes it easier to access your Netflix account on another Xbox, wherever you are.

Also, for all members in Canada, Latin America, the UK and Ireland, you can now share TV shows and movies and discover what your friends are watching and rating too. Just connect your Netflix account to Facebook and you’re set.

Don’t have Netflix? You can easily download the application from Xbox LIVE Marketplace on your console today to begin enjoying movies and TV shows instantly.

More on the Netflix blog

Xbox 360, Xbox Live By Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson

permalink: http://majornelson.com/2012/04/09/netflix-update-now-available-on-xbox-live/

  • Nathan

    Looking forward to see if  the ‘Better color contrast’ brings the visuals up to par with PS3.

    • Anonymous

      Ummmm

    • Anonymous

      Hope so

  • http://twitter.com/Tartmaster Anthony Tartamella

    Can we get parties back in Netflix? 

    • Avatar Roku

      Even better can we get parties back in all the apps. I would love to watch HBO and Youtube with friends too.

    • Anonymous

      He addressed that during the Q&A portion of the PAX East podcast.

      Basically, there were technical issues that prevented it from being included in the new app & they’re working on bringing it back.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=44010669 Jeff Yenzer

    Excellent.  As a multiple 360 household, the single sign on will be most appreciated!

  • Anonymous

    Will this allow us to pick the episode we want also? I love the voice commands, but hate not being able to choose a specific episode.

  • http://twitter.com/ThePatMendonca Pat Mendonca

    Does it still autoplay?

  • http://twitter.com/ike123459 Luis Ivan Martin

    This is already mentioned but please consider mentioning to whoever is in charge of this: Bring back parties to Netflix.

  • http://twitter.com/ike123459 Luis Ivan Martin

    This is already mentioned but please consider mentioning to whoever is in charge of this: Bring back parties to Netflix.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_P6ALTUJ7KUEGF4DZF6YP2L2SNI DaleG

    Finally the update fix,thanks for listening to the people.

  • http://twitter.com/korahn Eric Starr

    In Canada, we’ve been able to share with friends via facebook since it started.  what I want is voice commands to work again.

  • http://twitter.com/TheRealMrCheeks MrCheeks

    Auto play is the worst thing ever on the Netflix app.  Maybe if it was an option to have auto play it would be better so it can be disabled.

    • Bryan Scott

      Agreed…did they consider the user experience at all while designing the Netflix refresh? Sometimes I can understand taking one step forward but two steps backwards…it happens. But IMO they only took steps backwards in this one. I much prefer to use Netflix on my Roku or Apple TV now over my Xbox.

  • http://twitter.com/TheRealMrCheeks MrCheeks

    Auto play is the worst thing ever on the Netflix app.  Maybe if it was an option to have auto play it would be better so it can be disabled.

  • http://twitter.com/DYZFUNCTI0NAL No One

    Now add back the Party Feature

  • http://twitter.com/KillingIMachine KillingMachine

    The biggest advantage to using Netflix on the Xbox 360 compared to other devices I have was the party viewing option. Downgrading the app by taking a major feature like that away has me using it a lot less. I’d really like to see that feature return.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christian-Hartwig/100000410071342 Christian Hartwig

    I would like to know what’s happening to the Lovefilm app in germany? It was announced for germany and uk, but is only available in uk.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=651807724 Warren Crosby

      Love film isnt available outside the uk yet

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christian-Hartwig/100000410071342 Christian Hartwig

        I know that. But why? It’s available on the PS3 and Apples iDevices in germany (and promotes both in their television ad).Microsoft has to be faster adding new services. Even more if those services are available on other devices.

  • ElektroDragon

    I hope between the last dash update and this update that Netflix will finally look as good on the 360 as it does on the PS3.  Unless they are still downgrading 1080 video to 720.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tyler.j.fox Tyler James Fox

    Ive got a problem with mine now ! I use the US version in the UK but now it wont wok saying r8106-154-5003. Has this new update stopped me viewing the US in the UK can anyone help ??

    • Anonymous

      Considering you were doing something that you shouldn’t have been able to do, don’t expect them to help troubleshoot it.

  • Anonymous

    I have been disappointed in the Netflix app since the dashboard update. Basicly, they took away everything that made it better then the PS3 app.
    How it handles FF/RW, display mode, party, having to start the show to rate or see what year it was made… The list goes on. Also, loose the Kinect gimmick and let me search w/ the microphone. I won’t EVER buy a Kinect.

    • http://twitter.com/HaloKitty343 DMH

      The voice recognition software and processing for the voice is IN the Kinect.  Lose the Kinect, lose the voice recognition.  It could be built into the next Xbox if they chose to take on all that processing in the main console, but that’s not how this Xbox was designed.  Remember that design was being developed in 2004-2005 and all this tech was an add-on much later. I would also like my console to print money and make me a sandwich, but they didn’t have the time or processing power in 2004 to include that either.  

    • Anonymous

       Why should they drop Kinect just because YOU won’t use it?  I like being able to quickly pause without having to wait for my wireless pad to fire up first.  Its a drag when I watched a movie and it kept stopping and pausing because Kinect was interpreting movie dialogue as commands though.

      I still think the PS3 app is better overall, but no need to remove Kinect support on the 360 app – just don’t sacrifice pad/remote functionality in favour of Kinect.  It should be equally as pleasant to use with both control methods.

  • Anonymous

    I have been disappointed in the Netflix app since the dashboard update. Basicly, they took away everything that made it better then the PS3 app.
    How it handles FF/RW, display mode, party, having to start the show to rate or see what year it was made… The list goes on. Also, loose the Kinect gimmick and let me search w/ the microphone. I won’t EVER buy a Kinect.

  • http://twitter.com/NathanielFrost1 Nathaniel Frost

    The update is a good first step to fixing the app. Haven’t used it since the update at the end of last year. It looks better, but still waiting for party mode to make a come back.

  • http://twitter.com/NathanielFrost1 Nathaniel Frost

    The update is a good first step to fixing the app. Haven’t used it since the update at the end of last year. It looks better, but still waiting for party mode to make a come back.

  • Anonymous

    Still cant skip to the next chapter…  

  • devilmanone

    That’s great that they are still working on it but mine still doesn’t work since the last major update.  I can watch one episode and then it crashes.  Hulu isn’t much better but at least I can watch a few episodes before it stops.  Keeping my fingers crossed, maybe mine will magically start working again.

    • http://twitter.com/pcedfeldt Paul Cedfeldt

       Have u tried completely deleting the application from your xbox hard-drive, then re-downloading.  I was having crashing issues (app wouldn’t even launch) and this fixed it.

      • devilmanone

        Hi Paul, yes I did and it still happened.  I even contacted MS back when it first ocurred and tried all of their suggestions, except sending my system for repairs and paying $125.  (This was the same system that never had any issues prior to that update) When I get home I’m going to delete it completely and try again.  Hopefully I’ll have better luck this time.

        • http://twitter.com/FoxClass Eric J

           I had problems with that too.  All the research I did only seemed to point toward the poorly designed app.  I’ve had recent success when I bought a new router and enabled UPnP.  Not saying that cured any problems, or what exactly the issue could have been, but since then I haven’t had a crash.

          • devilmanone

            Hi Eric J, I also enabled UPnP and my router was only 2 months old at that time.  It’s pretty weird how some of us never had issues until after the update.  Makes you wonder what they changed.

  • Thomas

    Because of the auto play feature in the Netflix app we stopped using the Xbox for Netflix completely and we use the Apple TV instead. Will this feature ever be fixed so that it can be turned off?

  • http://profiles.google.com/thief000 J.A.J.G. Thiéfaine

    Drop the GOLD requirement for apps/services that require an additional paid subscription!
    Also bring back the party features and bring them to more apps.

  • Anonymous

    Can you please bring back the feature to invite a friend to watch Netflix together? Please!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=698882369 Teksuo Hikari

    Awesome you fixed black levels NOW BRING BACK THE PARTY SUPPORT. :D

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alfred-Romanov/1652951801 Alfred Romanov

    I’d much rather they revert Netflix to 6 months ago. It used to run great.

  • http://twitter.com/DylanArchey Dylan Archey

    Sad to see I STILL can’t watch movies with friends again.   That’s what made the whole experience for me.  Now we have to time it right and make sure were at the same spot.

  • http://twitter.com/SIPCrucio Crucio – Julien

    Ahh Good Netflix, I asked about Fullscreen options a few months back! Way to deliver!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_K4EHA47UCSQ6YTLWR3NUQB2SAY Dylan

    Still needs party support back.

  • http://www.denmarblog.com/ Dennis Marciniak

    I hope by pushing the black levels out you guys didn’t lose shadow detail because that’s a problem already as it is.

    • http://twitter.com/dibils dibils

       then turn up your brightness if you want the same effect you had before the update (disgusting washed out looking one)

    • Anonymous

      Basically, the black levels are now what they are on every single other device that supports Netflix.

      I had been watching Netflix on PS3 due to the washed out mess that was on Xbox.  I only happened to try Netflix again on Xbox due to the xbox rewards event.  I immediately thought “wait, this looks almost as good as on PS3 now” then I find this post here mentioning it was fixed.

      I do seem to be having a lot of problems with the app dropping the HD feel though, it seems much more stable and still a slightly better picture on the PS3 app.

  • Lee Rayson

    I just got dashboaded because i clickec on a movie? mehhhhh

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jake-Smith/1742640230 Jake Smith

    Bring Netflix Parties Back!!

  • Anonymous

    Dont worry you cant catch it.

  • http://twitter.com/FoxClass Eric J

    Awesome, Kinect support.  That was a big problem, the Kinect needs to be integrated throughout entertainment and social apps so we can get as much use out of the kinect as possible.  I hope this fixes the problems the app has with signing out/crashing/etc

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Adanac/100001237455741 Joe Adanac

    Still waiting for them to fix the 1080p downscale problem on all non-Zune videos that has existed since the Metro update.

    • Anonymous

       I still am yet to see this problem.  Then again I only use Netflix and the HD-DVD player.

      Netflix the bitrate is too low to really be sure either way but HD-DVDs are DEFINITELY outputting 1080p like they should.

  • http://www.facebook.com/cmartinez034 Christian Martinez

    This update seems to have done more harm than good… What a ‘surprise’ from Netflix. Anybody else having issues with the app causing the video signal loss?

  • http://www.facebook.com/cmartinez034 Christian Martinez

    And I agree with what others have said, the app from <6 months ago is much better than this app. No forced auto-play feature, the video signal never cut out, parties were available, and the layout was better. I'm still not sure why MS decided to downgrade the dashboard visually; the 'cover-flow' style of the old dash was beautiful and fluid and enabled more items to be seen on screen at a time.

    Frustrating…

  • nick krone

    Why would you ever get rid of Xbox Live parties? Seriously…..why? One of the worst product decisions I’ve ever had to experience as an end user.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T7LOQAEEWPFE7UBMQGVCTNELQI huck

       anyone remember being able to send your friends recommendations and links to arcade games?
       there’s a few really cool features they ditched over the years…

  • ryder4life22187

    why dont u give me the feature so i can queue up like lets say 3 tv shows so i dont have to constantly find something else to watch after one show gets over

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IM4MADM5FEXFPXGOJCYKQQZCUE Erik

    –> Single sign on with cloud profile makes it easier to access your Netflix account on another Xbox, wherever you are. <–
    This worked already! I hope you guys not messing up things. because I used Netflix easily with 2 xbox consoles without problem!

    But after this updte I am going cancel my netflix account anyway now. I have been now over 3 months customer. Guess how many new movies was added with last 3 months? ZERO! :) And they even dont have normal customer service. Netflix suck!

  • b knight

    Doesn’t work, screen goes black! 

  • Robert M

    Yet, there’s still no option for us to remove these apps from our dashboard because we don’t use them.

    I just canceled my Netflix account because it can’t even deliver us movies (well, those that aren’t 10 years old) we *want* to see.

    Of course, since a few articles stated more people use the 360 to watch, and not play, I guess I’m now in the minority. Again.

    Luddite me for the … uh… loss?
     

    • Anonymous

       

      I don’t think you’re in the minority. Weak selection is the
      number-one complaint I’ve seen about Netflix from people online. I know I cancelled
      them, not because of the user interface, but due to the stale content. Maybe
      the 360’s usage statistics you’re referencing, has more to do with the video
      game industry, than anything else. I can’t say for sure, but I’ve been
      considerably more satisfied with the Blockbuster @Home service that my employer,
      DISH, put out a while back, than I ever was with Netflix. Between the instant streaming,
      the slew of included movie channels, and the movie and video game rentals
      through the mail, I haven’t gotten bored with their content, and with the way
      titles are being added all the time, I don’t think I will..

  • theConstruct

    Auto Play = true
    Update = Fail

  • http://twitter.com/Inaba_kun Inaba-kun

    Nice that the black levels are finally fixed. Only took 5 months…   Now when can we expect black level fixes for LoveFilm and 4OD? 

  • http://twitter.com/bullet25fxbx Bob Kauffman

    Party view feature!?

  • J TRIPLE DASH

    PLEASE FIX YOUTUBE! its been buggy since the last patch. 

  • http://twitter.com/Ganon255 Ganon255

    Glad they finally got the black levels fixed. I just cancelled my Netflix the other day. When I first got it years ago they were pretty much the only streaming service around, but now with all their pricing and service bungles last year and the competition offering other viable options, it’s not even worth the $8 to me anymore because alot of the content is redundant and I can already access elsewhere.

  • http://twitter.com/Smiley80118 Steve

    Shame they messed up downloading games while watching netflix now.   Before the last update you could download games while watching netflix.  Not now.  Good job Microsoft on screwing up again

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1313226340 Michael Barnes

    i dont care about this junk… i want to be able to watch netflix with a party again… why was that taken away?

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