Mass Xbox Console Banning

Read this on IGN.

Wake up this morning only to find your Xbox Live account has been banned? That's probably because you had a modded console and were playing illegal, pirated copies of games.

"We have taken action against a small percentage of consoles that have been modified to play pirated game discs," a Microsoft spokesperson told IGN. "In line with our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community, we are suspending these modded consoles from Xbox LIVE."

Though Microsoft wouldn't confirm specifically when these bannings took place, a quick look over on its official forums suggest it's been going on over the course of this past week. Plenty of users have created threads on the technical feedback forum reporting of having their Xbox 360 console banned.

Microsoft also added this is a standing policy and isn't tied to any specific time-frame.

"All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE," the spokesperson added. "The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them."

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1040853p1.html

-Shark2k

You didn't have to be playing pirated games.

Any console that had a drive repaired by a repair center other than Mircosoft is now banned.

You didn't have to be playing pirated games.

Any console that had a drive repaired by a repair center other than Mircosoft is now banned.

Ding ding, winnar!

Oh yeah, LOL'zers at the xbox forum's account suspension subforum: http://forums.xbox.com/1386/ShowForum.aspx

You didn't have to be playing pirated games.

Any console that had a drive repaired by a repair center other than Mircosoft is now banned.

I know you are just saying, but I was just repeating what IGN wrote. Of course, what you said could possibly suck more than just pirated games as it could possiby affect more people.

Also, I just realized this probably could have gone in the thread Pinoy (I believe) started saying he heard about this.

-Shark2k

Also, I just realized this probably could have gone in the thread Pinoy (I believe) started saying he heard about this.

-Shark2k

Eh, that was a different subject, it was about MS disabling non-MS drives/storage, they wouldn't ban you for that (even MS couldn't stoop that low) I think this subject deserves it's own thread.

Ding ding, winnar!

Oh yeah, LOL'zers at the xbox forum's account suspension subforum: http://forums.xbox.com/1386/ShowForum.aspx

I just read some of those people asking why their console was banned when they never opened it up or modded it. It seems many of the consoles banned were repaired by MS themselves according to the posters and there is NO WAY to get something like this reversed even if the only thing done to it was done when the console was repaired by MS. I know this is what the banned owner is stating but if this is true, then I can see the 360 losing a lot of business going forward because of this.

I predict if true about MS facilities doing something when repairing them that gets it banned a class action suit will be coming soon.

you didn't have to be playing pirated games.

Any console that had a drive repaired by a repair center other than mircosoft is now banned.

wow!

when Blizzard banned like 1.5 million accounts a while back everyone predicted their downfall. Meanwhile they picked up another 3 million shortly after putting them at what 11 million users? Now I realize the 360 userbase probably isn't as understanding or as addicted as a WoW player but they won't lose any business to this. Most people will probably just assume their system broke and send it in or use it as an excuse to get a 250gb system.

And the real illegitimate people will say "well it lasted as long as it did" and find another way to cheat the system. And I'm gonna bet MOST of the people banned are actually illegitimate. Microsoft obviously felt a need to protect it's interests. And they have one of the best spin teams in the world. They make the Nixon spin team look amateurish.

when Blizzard banned like 1.5 million accounts a while back everyone predicted their downfall. Meanwhile they picked up another 3 million shortly after putting them at what 11 million users? Now I realize the 360 userbase probably isn't as understanding or as addicted as a WoW player but they won't lose any business to this. Most people will probably just assume their system broke and send it in or use it as an excuse to get a 250gb system.
Oh no, they'll know the reason why it can't login: It tells you.
And the real illegitimate people will say "well it lasted as long as it did" and find another way to cheat the system. And I'm gonna bet MOST of the people banned are actually illegitimate. Microsoft obviously felt a need to protect it's interests. And they have one of the best spin teams in the world. They make the Nixon spin team look amateurish.

Most likely true.

Worst thing is, the pirates with the banned systems are gonna be selling them second hand to unsuspecting people.

Worst thing is, the pirates with the banned systems are gonna be selling them second hand to unsuspecting people.


you bring up a good point I wonder how stores like gamestop will protect themselves from this. I doubt they plug every system into the internet. I've seen them boot systems up but not go online with them. Not that I'm worried about ThriftShop Gaming going out of business, but it's still something that can cause them to say "no more trades on 360's" or "we're giving this much for trades until we can figure this out".

you bring up a good point I wonder how stores like gamestop will protect themselves from this. I doubt they plug every system into the internet.

Is it really the system itself? Or is it the Live Gamertag that's been banned?

Is it really the system itself? Or is it the Live Gamertag that's been banned?

If it's for a modded console then it's the console itself that is banned, and *maybe* the XBL account.

The account never get's banned. Just the console.

Banning the account would work better at preventing piracy, but it does nothing for hardware sales.;)

The account never get's banned. Just the console.

Banning the account would work better at preventing piracy, but it does nothing for hardware sales.;)

How so?

Banning the account does nothing to prevent piracy and neither does banning the console, really. If said account gets banned from playing on LIVE then you simply make another account and so on until your fingers bleed.

If the console gets banned, more like the eepromm within the console, then it just will not work on LIVE, period.

There is nothing stopping someone who already owns a modified console from continuing to pirate games, neither account ban or console ban will stop you from playing such. So why is it unreasonable for MS to takeaway its online service from those who obtain pirated material permanently?

I understand that this forum has an obvious notion that MS is evil and such and such... blah, doing things to 'line their pockets and boost console sales'... I occasionally read the forum and see it each time I visit along with the endless moronic spin which was/is always followed by the sarcastic smiley or wink, which, although tempting, wasn't worth it.

This, was just too funny.

:) ;) :D

and... :p

So banned from.. multiplayer?

I have a modded 360 but I just have a silver membership. Would I still be able to dl updates?

Not sure if I should turn my 360 on...

Worst thing is, the pirates with the banned systems are gonna be selling them second hand to unsuspecting people.

Sooo is your console banned or have you already sold it to some poor soul :o

Sooo is your console banned or have you already sold it to some poor soul :o

:lol:

I kinda agree with LiquidX, banning the console or the account does nothing to impede piracy, it only stops pirates from using XBL and playing online. On the other hand the would-be pirates might also go out and buy a new 360, buy the games, and possible re-buy their XBL membership too...

So banned from.. multiplayer?

I have a modded 360 but I just have a silver membership. Would I still be able to dl updates?

Not sure if I should turn my 360 on...

Don't know for sure, but my guess is that the last update is the thing that probably brings the ban hammer. If that's the case, you will have the option to DL it at start up, if you decline it will automatically sign you out of your account though.

:lol:

I kinda agree with LiquidX, banning the console or the account does nothing to impede piracy, it only stops pirates from using XBL and playing online. On the other hand the would-be pirates might also go out and buy a new 360, buy the games, and possible re-buy their XBL membership too...

Wooowhat? Haha.

Just wait for someone to come up with a ID generator, and we'll start seeing random 360's getting banned.

Worst thing is, the pirates with the banned systems are gonna be selling them second hand to unsuspecting people.

I was thinking the same thing. I guess if someone wants to go online they better not buy a used 360 anymore. I think this will kill the used 360 market as I know I would not buy one (online at least) without some guarantee and a way to get my money back.

Doing this will likely turn many people off to the 360 IMO, but MS may make up the money by killing the used 360 market which could increase the new market as people will be afraid to buy a used 360.

I know I wouldn't buy a used one now myself.

If I had a banned/modded console I'd be playing the shit out of MW2 right now and posting screens.

where are these screens?

If I had a banned/modded console I'd be playing the shit out of MW2 right now and posting screens.

You did say you had a modded console when as you mentioned playing Fallout 3 before it was released as did you say you played a pirated copy of Gears 2 because of those ignorant statments Cliffy B made...

But I didn't say it still works. :/

It honestly isn't worth the hassle for the gimped features. I don't buy a ton of games, so I like being able to play online, buy DLC ect.

Trust me, if I had it I'd be pimping a justin.tv stream swearing I got it legit. :lol: :crying: