It’s been a big week for Microsoft’s Beam video game streaming service with its rebranding as Mixer, the launch of the Mixer Create app on iOS and Android, the numerous app updates, and the debut of a main Mixer channel named Channel One which runs 24/7 and features a rotating collection of live and recorded broadcasts.
Hey @WatchMixer why am I being billed $95 when I didn't ask for pro
— LASixx9 (@LASixx9) May 27, 2017
To reward loyal Beam users for sticking with the service through its transition, the higher-ups decided to gift those with a user level over 50 with a one year Mixer Pro membership. The problem with this though was that no one at Mixer decided to communicate this with any of its members and this resulted in a host of confused and even angry users on social media who thought they had been tricked into signing up for the paid service which costs $7.99 a month. Some have even expressed frustration at being upgraded without their permission even with the $0 price tag. This is likely due to the fact that many companies offer free trials of paid services with the intention of encouraging users to transition into paying in full to extend the service after their trial ends. It’s easy to see how this gift could be misinterpreted as a marketing exercise.
https://twitter.com/WatchMixer/status/868967429032071168
Something which added to the confusion was that all of the members who got this free upgrade were emailed the default email that paid Pro users get after paying for the service. Mixer has stated on their Twitter account that they’re going to be clarifying exactly what’s happening in a blog post in a few days’ time but as of the time of this writing, the same account hasn’t even mentioned the situation in a public tweet, only on replies to concerned members.
Did Mixer automatically give out pro memberships or something because I don't know how I got one and I don't want to get billed :S
— Cap'n Prio (@PrioHuq) May 27, 2017
Mixer Pro is a premium subscription service that removes ads and increases the user XP earned by watching and streaming videos. It’s more of a novelty right now as there aren’t that many ads on the new service anyway but this could likely change in the second half of 2017 when Mixer is given a prominent position on the Xbox One console’s dashboard.
Did you receive a free Mixer Pro membership and were you confused by the random upgrade? Let us know in the comments below.
