If you have an Xbox Live Gold subscription only to access media apps such as Netflix and Hulu, Microsoft’s recent decision to remove the digital requirement may have left you feeling short-changed. After all, many consumers buy an upfront 12-month subscription to get a discount on the standard monthly fee.

To make amends, Microsoft is promising to refund Xbox Live Gold subscribers who will no longer need their membership from June, when the changes come into effect. Payments will be made on a pro-rata basis, calculated from the day of cancellation to when their membership would have normally ended.

“Cancellation and pro-rata refund requests must be made by August 31, 2014 and require six to eight weeks for processing,” the company said. “Free or trial Gold memberships are not eligible for a refund.” To request a payment, you’ll need to contact Microsoft (http://support.xbox.com/contact-us) once the system updates go live for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One next month.

Microsoft announced the move yesterday alongside a new Xbox One bundle that will be sold without its next-generation Kinect sensor. All entertainment apps will no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription; alongside streaming apps, that also includes sports experiences such as NBA Game Time, NFL and MLB.TV, as well as Microsoft’s own apps.

➤ Xbox Support [via VideoGamer | CramGaming]

Image Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

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