Microsoft thinks Xbox Live is the determining factor for success

Many Xbox 360 fans can attest to the popularity of the premium online gaming service offered on the Xbox 360. The pay to play service offers a smooth, always on connection to games. It allows friends to connect, play, and share their experiences on the console. Because of this, Microsoft believes that it's commitment to excellence in supporting the platform has led to not only popularity and a robust subscriber base, but better games on the console as well. Chris Lewis of Microsoft recently stated "We're also pretty confident the cross-platform experience is better on Xbox. We enjoy great success with Call of Duty. Live is the oxygen that runs through our business. The experience users have through Xbox Live is a fundamental differentiator for us versus other platforms. FIFA is another one. Certainly here in Europe football is a religion. Our ongoing commitment to experiencing better and playing better on Xbox is partly a function of what we do with Xbox Live.