Microsoft bans chipped Xbox 360s from Live
Pirate gamers booted off Xbox Live by Microsoft
Microsoft has cut off thousands of Xbox Live gamers that modify their consoles. Online reports indicate that as many as 600,000 gamers have been affected.
- See what title won Game of the Year at the T3 Gadget Awards 2009
The primary reason gamers modify their console is to play pirated games. Thousands worldwide will switch on their consoles to find the following message when logging in: “Your console has been banned from Xbox”.
Microsoft wouldn’t say how they identified consoles that had violated the company’s terms and conditions but confirmed that it was possible to do so remotely. The ban doesn’t prevent the owner from using their console but it does stop them signing in to Xbox Live to play online.
One young gamer who returned home to find his Xbox 360 cut off from Xbox Live told the BBC that the £50 price tag that most games carry meant he couldn’t afford to buy games on the console.
He added: “I said to myself I'll pay £75 to get it chipped, after two games I've paid the money back.”
Game piracy is said to cost the industry almost £750 million a year and this will come as welcome news to developers that often see their games pirated before their release date.
Link: Xbox Live (via BBC)
10 Project Natal games we could see in 2010
Gaming icons toying with the idea of motion sensors
You need to 
Watch gadgets in action
Hot Reviews
Google Nexus One UK review
See if the Google phone is good enough to topple the iPhone
Sky 3D Premier League football review
Can Sky change the way we view football forever?
LG Intouch Max review
We find out if Android on a budget can really be done
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited,
Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
By ashtbasht
13|11|2009 10:16
my previous comment was based on the RRP, i do agree you can shop around for a cheaper price.
By GamersRevenge
12|11|2009 00:41
£50, £45, where are all you people shopping? In most supermarkets sauch as Sainsburys, Morrisons, Tesco, etc they range from as little as £26 - £30. And, in comment to the "chipped 360's" in the long run it's not worth the hassle, and they should be cut off.
By ashtbasht
11|11|2009 19:22
£45 Quid is a bit steep for a game but they never stay at that price for long. I either make sure i can spare the money at release or wait for it to drop. All these people deserve to be cut off.