HBO Go, the Home Box Office Channel's answer to 'On Demand' content, is coming to Xbox Live on April 1st. Back when the next update for Xbox Live was being demoed for subscribers, one of the key features Microsoft was touting was there support for streaming services like HBO Go, the BBC, and Sky, and now that's all coming to fruition some 5 months later.

Gamers were made aware that the services wouldn't be hitting the console alongside the update, which is probably a good thing considering all the problems it was causing, but now we're a bit closer to realizing that vision. HBO Go was one of the key pieces to the next phase of Xbox Live, and now it's right around the corner.

But, for those who are unfamiliar with HBO Go, don't get too excited about this announcement because the service still requires an active HBO subscription, which itself requires a cable subscription. HBO Go on the Xbox 360 is essentially being able to watch HBO content on the TV…that you most likely already watch HBO content on.

There is, however, a big incentive to sign up for HBO in time for April 1st, which will see return of the wildly popular TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones. Game of Thrones, the property, has been, and is being, adapted for the video game medium — in both RPG and turn-based strategy forms — and now fans can experience the storyline in yet another form.

It's not going to be an easy sell, HBO Go on Xbox Live, but HBO has surely taken a good look at Netflix's success on the platform, and are trying to follow suit. Sure, Netflix is available on a wide variety of devices, including the Xbox 360's biggest competitors, but gamers seem to flock to the 360 for that service without much rhyme or reason. If HBO Go can even garner half as much success as Netflix, then Microsoft is sure to be extremely satisfied with this new direction.

Would you be interested in signing up for HBO now that its Go service is coming to Xbox Live? What other streaming services would you like to see on Xbox Live?

Source: Engadget