990°

Xbox Disc Update: Microsoft Confirms 360 Replacements

NowGamer: Microsoft has told NowGamer it will upgrade the consoles of customers affected by the switch to an enhanced disc format, free of charge...

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xbox-360.nowgamer.com
LightSamus4760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

I half hope my 360 isn't compatible just so I can bag a slim XD

skyward4760d ago

Dunno what the criteria are, but if its a certain model number it'd be worth trying to pick up a used one on the cheap...

Yi-Long4760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

...cause I install all my games to the HDD, but I'd love to trade it in for a 'Slim' if my console is eligible...

Venjense4760d ago

@skyward

If I didn't already have a 360 slim id try and do that. Smart idea man.

FAGOL4760d ago

You probably would have to of been a customer for a certain period of time to be eligible. But if you don't i'm going to buy a used arcade model lol.

AAACE54760d ago

Your console and serial number have to be entered into their system before you are allowed into the beta, so you can't use any other consoles!

Shame on me for having a good working 360! I really would have loved that slim...

darthv724760d ago

I have an original 05 pro system that still works. I am not hoping it is affected by this but if it is then a good job by MS to replace it with a newer system.

Chances are my 07 elite wont be affected.

InFAMOUS14760d ago

4GB Slims are 149 here in Canada...... That is pretty cheap to me.

RankFTW4760d ago

This is the first time that anybody has hoped a firmware update DOES brick the console lol (I know it isn't a brick but meh).

kaveti66164759d ago

A lot of people complaining about how Microsoft screws consumers over.

And then when these people find a way to screw Microsoft over - by deliberately purchasing a console that will be affected by the update - they have no qualms about doing it.

And therefore, you guys deserve to be screwed over. It's not a game of who started it first. If you're willing to stoop to the level that you so despise and criticize, then you deserve it.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4759d ago
RedDead4760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

I really hope mine doesn't, I can tell mine is dying(with the loud sounds again). I like the slim aswell, best looking console in years(just above Ps3 fat), quiet and small.

RedDevils4760d ago

actually below Ps3 fat, imo Ps3 fat still look the best better than both 360 slim and ps3 slim

ImHereNow4760d ago

the 360s makes the ps3 fat look like shit

Brock Danger4760d ago

Yeah, console preferences aside, the PS3 fat looks like a Pontiac Aztec. And the spiderman font is embarrassing. 360 S and PS3 Slim are both awesome improvements in my opinion.

anh_duong4760d ago

which xbox are affected? which games would be affected?

FunkMcnasty4760d ago

@ahh_duong

If you had read the article, it says a small percentage of the "250G XBOX360 S." I don't really know what the 'S' is for, never heard of it.. I'm guesssin they're probably referring to the earlier model '360 pro,' which I think they discontinued a while back when they released the 'arcade' model that shipped without a Hard Drive.

As for the games that will be effected, I'm guessing any games scheduled to realease by this summer, as I gather that MS is looking to dive right into this new disc format soon

darthv724760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

actually...it doesnt say that at all. It simply says a small percentage of 360's not 360s's are impacted by this. Those in the beta are from many different sku's ranging from the original Pro and core models to the elites and slims.

There had been several board revisions that this update has to work with. If you have a unit that doesnt work then you would be entitled to a replacement of a 360s 250gb system.

My 2005 pro is more prone to this issue than my 2007 elite but i wont know until I update both.

MS could fix the issue before the update goes live and currently we are seeing them replace those systems registered in the beta. Imagine if they didnt fix it and the number of systems that would need to be swapped out around the world.

CRAZY!

PS360PCROCKS4760d ago

hahahaha way to go funk

"if you had read the article"

lmao than you post some crap that doesn't even make any sense, way to go! The xbox 360S (S=Slim!) is the new model. So basically if YOU would have read and comprehended the article you would know that a small percentage of xbox 360's that have this issue will be swapped for a new 250GB Xbox 360S

blumatt4760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

The funny thing is that had MS went with a BR drive or an HD-DVD drive in the first place, none of this crap would've had to happen. Games like FF13 wouldn't have had to have content cut to fit on an outdated disc medium. Either way, I guess it's good they're coming out with a better disc format. Better late than never, I suppose.

I'm curious to see if they're gonna put in bluray in the Xbox 720. I hope they do. It had better not have DVD9 again. That would be a bad decision. The PS4 will likely have a Quad-Layer Bluray disc with somewhere around 100GB of storage capacity. Just speculating here of course.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4760d ago
Perjoss4760d ago

that would be great to get a free slim upgrade as they do not red ring. Older models still do it, even the elite with the cooler chip as i found out myself.

Tzuno4760d ago

if you play hours and hours without stop and who knows your console stand in a bad ventilated area put it on something to stay higher than the base surface

saladthieves4760d ago

I never thought I'd say such a thing about my Xbox 360, but let's hope the new firmware does the same to me. I could really use a new slim right about now!

Solidus187-SCMilk4760d ago

I have an old jasper arcade and I was in the beta. Everything worked like normal for me so far. I guess some people get a new 360.

Strikepackage Bravo4760d ago

Wow, so Microsoft fights security issues by giving something to its customers, while Sony handles security issues by taking something away from its customers.

the_best_player4760d ago

In coming alot more RROD and RDOD

DeFFeR4759d ago

YLOD > RDOD

RRoD was a travesty for sure, but MS righted the ship with the Slim model.

I'm assuming you either know this, or are too ignorant to recognize the facts.

Enjoy your one comment per article.

execution174759d ago

hmm mines a little over 2 years now, :) so hopefully i can swap mine... >.> but im being to cheap renew my xbl gold membership

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4759d ago
Droid Control4760d ago

Microsoft - what a joke.
Seriously, they need to stop making hardware, or get betteer quality components.

units4760d ago

at least they are getting new slim

X_GAMER_X4760d ago

Free of charge. I can not understand why people complain about that.

And u sir, Do u have Xbox 360? Is this effecting you'r console if you have one? Or are you here just to get som attention?

NukaCola4760d ago

People always complain. Look at the top articles. Asses whining about the PSN Welcome Back program.

WetN00dle694760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

NukaCola

That one actually makes me laugh!
I mean we are getting FREE stuff what else do they want??? Bunch a cry babies!

JasonPC360PS3Wii4760d ago

It's just beta testers with old 360's that are effected. I'm in the beta and have a Falcon and have no issues. So far is seems to only effect a small minority of old 360's or replaced drives.

darthv724760d ago

imagine if MS let it release as it is. Can you think of the percentage of replacements that could take place?

I missed my shot in the beta and I have an original 05 pro system. MS could most likely fix the glitch before it releases but chances are there will still be a few here and there even after they do.

As with any software update there is a risk of unforeseen circumstances. Anyone with the older/1st gen model is more at risk of incompatibilities when they are targeting the newer revision hardware.

The idea is to make the updates as universal but there are just going to be some things that dont want to play nice.

sp1deynut4760d ago

Yeah...and I guess Sony needs to get out of the online market, considering how incompetent they've proven to be, and leave such things to MS/XBLIVE . :)

YodaCracker4760d ago

You are warned that participating in the beta can brick your console. Microsoft does not even have to offer free replacements, but they are.

awiseman4760d ago

You do realize you had to agree that there was the potential that this could happen...

The fact that they are offering FREE replacements is a complete courtesy to their beta testers.

But then again..you are just a troll.

dirtrider4760d ago

droid control- what a joke.

seriously, do something other than trolling articles on n4g. you need to get way better lines for trolling

aviator1894760d ago

You seriously need to stop trolling and read these articles better, rather than writing the first few words that come to your mind after you've finished reading the title of a story.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4760d ago
Lirky4760d ago

Fault hardware can happen to PCs,Ps3s, and Wiis so its just maybe microsoft has a bad record with faulty hardware.. they handle software skills, sony handles hardware skills better than software skills.

danielle0074760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

Woops. I did not get the gist of the article. Fixing comment. But, this is not hardware, this is software. It's happening because of an update, and it's not all older 360s, so it's a software issue with that particular model.

guigsy4760d ago

Now that's good customer service. Microsoft jumps on the issue before it begins to escalate and offers not just a replacement, but an upgrade. A certain other company could learn from this...

MasterCornholio4760d ago (Edited 4760d ago )

So Microsoft did that with the RROD? Wow now thats something i didnt know before so it really is BS that engineers told microsoft that the 360 wasnt ready for launch. \

Thanks for the information

+bubbles

guigsy4760d ago

And they have learn't from their mistake, hence why I said a certain other company could "learn" from this.

radphil4760d ago

I think it's an even trade-off considering the people they screwed over from 2006....

jaixvx4760d ago

They have too!^^^^.....rrod they ignored it! taken to court,Trying to backpeddle and giving a 3 year warranty. Good PR my ass. They are just trying not to repeat that huge f%#kup..that's all.

DragonKnight4760d ago

A certain, green motif toting, company could learn a thing or two from certain other companies about actually building reliable hardware in the first place.

Dorwrath4760d ago

Certain company beginning with the letter S could learn a bit from other companies about not getting hacked every five minutes and how to communicate with your customers.

Microsoft are not perfect, neither are Sony.

DragonKnight4760d ago

A certain user above this post could learn a thing or two about common sense in that everything gets hacked, and it's imprudent to spout off half-truths and worrying people when you don't have all the facts.

Fallouts4760d ago

This kid must of started gaming this gen. Cause I sure as hell had problems with my ps1,2 and psp at launch. Difference is that I had to come out of pocket for each fix while I havnt had to pay a dime over rrod.

DragonKnight4760d ago

@Fallouts: Kid? I've been gaming probably longer than you've been alive. I've owned or gamed on pretty much every console since the NES. I own an original version of every Playstation product that's come out and have NEVER had ONE of them break down. Does that mean they aren't prone to it? Of course not. But Microsoft has the single largest case of hardware failure in electronics history. RROD is a multi-billion dollar blunder, and that my friend is the truth.

Compared to Sony and Nintendo, MS hardware may as well be made out of straw.

baodeus4759d ago (Edited 4759d ago )

@dragonknight

Didn't u read, fallout didn't have to pay a dime for RROD issue. It was a big issues, True, but MS did spend billions of $ to fix it for free for 3 years (including that error code E....something). At least they redeemed themselves by compensating adequatedly for people's lost.

I also has 2 RROD, they fix it free the 1st 2 times and just give me a brand new one (with 1 year live gold membership) after the 3rd RROD for free. And i bought it for $200 back in 2007 with a good deal ($200 rebate) from micro center. Never had to pay a dime for 3 years. If you still complaining about that, then i don't think u would ever be happy with any purchase.

I seriously don't remember Sony fix my ps2 disc error problem back then or a couple of my friend PS3 w/ YLOD/ disc read error for free. Do u remember Sony fix anything for free?

And please, if age doesn't come with wishdom and experience, it doesn't matter how old u are, it is still useless. It is like i'm saying hey, i started gaming even before atari days, doesn't it mean i'm more mature and somehow i would have more credibility than u? No

It is not about how old u are. It all depends on what u say, if you have evidences to back them up, if u have the guts to admit that you are wrong (no one is perfect) sometimes, if you stick to your principle and not flip flopping, etc...

DragonKnight4759d ago

@baodeus: I wouldn't know, Sony's never had to fix anything of mine, or of anyone I personally know. Their consoles are that reliable. You just mentioned a minimum of 4 RROD's. Microsoft may have fixed them for you free of charge, but had the console been reliable in the first place, they wouldn't have had to initiate such a costly warranty plan now would they have?

You're sitting there perfectly fine with a defective console simply because MS offered to fix it free of charge, but only for a very specific problem. And you're happy about that? And look at the failure rate of the 360. MS' own estimates put it at 33% of launch units right up until a little after the warranty plan started up. 33% is a far bigger problem than the 5 to 10% DRE issue with the PS2 (which I never suffered from and is within industry standards) but let's just forget that because MS is fixing it for free. That's what matters. Not that you accepted a sub-standard pile of electronic waste, no not that at all.

When you accept such a low standard of quality, you have only yourself to blame when it inevitably craps out on you.

baodeus4759d ago (Edited 4759d ago )

Yes, i agree that RROD is a serious problem. No ones would deny that fact. Nevertheless, like i said, MS did spend billions to fix it for free for 3 years. Eventhough the quality is pretty bad, at least MS assure that the consumer won't have to pay a dime to fix them. And that is why they have some redeeming points, but of course, consumers will be aware of it with MS next consoles. MS has a lot to loose with their reputation next gen so they must ensure it doesn't happen again and that i'm certain.

I did mention ps2 quality wasn't good (better than x360), but still pretty bad and i don't remember getting compensation for it. And still, i keep buying them because of the game alone (same with x360, although i didn't have to pay anything extra).

Ps3 quality is pretty good, but comparing for all 3 consoles, it isn't that great either (funny no one care about the quality of the wii). Many tend to say that MS doesn't know how to make reliable hardware (maybe happen w/ x360), but it isn't entirely true since the original xbox was a solid peace of hardware.

Hardware are prone to be broken (some worst than the other), but if consumers have at least some assurances (in this case is 3 years instead of the standard 1 year), it helps a lot to put their mind at ease for quite some time because they know that they will be compensated for it.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4759d ago
buckley4760d ago

Didn't Sony offer free games and subscriptions as a result of their already-free service going down for an extended period of time?

Why isn't it possible that both manufacturers have been loyal to their userbase?

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150°

10 Biggest Xbox Mistakes of All Time (So Far)

The Xbox brand has done a lot of good over the years, but their various blunders are pretty wild to look back on in their magnitude.

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culturedvultures.com
piroh5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Ironically number 9 can save them at this point (releasing games on multiple platforms)

ChasterMies3d ago

By “save them” you mean make more profit for Microsoft. Xbox will still be a dying hardware platform.

OtterX4d ago

You could add the naming scheme for the consoles, it just confuses customers. I know they wanted to avoid traditional numbering bc it would always be lower than their competitor, but this whole 360 then One then Series thing is confusing af. Imagine a Soccer Mom trying to figure this stuff out. I still mistakenly call the Series X the One from time to time on accident.

RNTody4d ago

Don't forget about the Xbox One, Xbox One X and Xbox Series X! Good luck to Soccer moms around the world.

S2Killinit3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

They did that on purpose to confuse and direct attention away from the generational numbering.

MS doesn’t like reminding people that they joined the industry after others had already been involved in gaming.

For instance, they called the xbox “360” to combat PlayStation “3” because they wanted to seem like “more” than “3”, so instead of xbox 2, they opted for xbox 360. Also this had the additional benefit of selling consoles to uninformed parents who might purchase a “360” instead of a “3” by mistake, or because they thought 360 was more than 3. Kind of a disingenuous move.

They have been continuing with their confusing naming patterns for pretty much the same reasons. Frankly, it fits with who and what they are as a brand.

FinalFantasyFanatic3d ago

I can understand their reasoning, but whoever came up with that naming scheme should be fired, bad naming schemes have killed consoles (I'm pretty sure it was the major reason for the downfall of the WiiU). They should have had unqiue names like Nintendo and Sega have had for their consoles, far less confusing for the consumer.

rob-GP51m ago

@FinalFantasyFanatic "They should have had unqiue names like Nintendo..."

lol, you mean:

NES, SNES
GameBoy, GameBoy Advanced, GameBoy Colour, GameBoy SP
DS, DSi, DSXL
3DS, 3DS XL, New 3DS, New 3DS XL
Wii, Wii U
Switch, Switch OLED

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 51m ago
Cacabunga4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Phil Spencer is the worst that has happened to Xbox.
They built a respectable brand up to Xbox one. Then this guy took over and things became a joke

Reaper22_4d ago

He still has his job. Something you can't say about Jim Ryan.

Cacabunga4d ago

Both bad execs. One is on job and one thankfully retired.

FinalFantasyFanatic3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I didn't like either person, both people damaged their respective brands and produced worse outcomes, but Phil did save the Xbox brand from being retired by Microsoft. Although in hindsight, he should have just let it die, rather than languish in limbo like it is now.

Rainbowcookie2d ago

Yeah but the one that was "bad" didn't even affect sales.

bunt-custardly3d ago

Phil Spencer was also on the team back when 360 was around, alongside Shane Kim, Peter Moore etc. I think the damage that did the most harm was the Don Mattrick "Always Online" console (ahead of its time basically). They handed Sony and Nintendo a free-pass when that was revealed. It went downhill from there. Then the corporate machine went into full swing to try and recover. They have to a degree as a games company for the masses, and less so for the core gamer. Outside USA, the Xbox brand does not sell as well as Japanese based consoles (citation needed).

Cacabunga3d ago

Want a decision maker. The always online and TV plans was a disaster yes, but they caught up by announcing 1st party games that gamers actually kept the hype going.. until this moron took over and introduced the PC day one release.. e all know where that ended..

S2Killinit3d ago

I dont think they were ever a respectable brand, not since the beginning, when their goal was never to be involved and share in the gaming space. I think the OG xbox was an exception because MS as a brand was still getting its foot in and so the people behind that were people of the gaming industry.

FinalFantasyFanatic3d ago

The 360 was the brand in its prime though, everything went downhill towards the end of that generation. Its staple games like Halo, Forza and Gears are what kept the console relevant and afloat for so long.

MaximusPrime_4d ago

Really good video.

I remember the days with RRoD was big news on here, N4G.

Microsoft had it turbulence number of years.

Looking at the success of Sea of Thieves despite being 6 years old, time to release Halo, Forza horizon 4 & 5 on PS5. It'll help their revenue

shinoff21834d ago (Edited 4d ago )

2 of the 4 games they did already sold really well. So it's definitely going down. Idk about halo or forza but I feel those studios they've bought in the last 5 years, their coming

ChasterMies4d ago

I found this video painful to watch. Can someone list them out?

Top 10 for me from are:
1. 2013 reveal presentation
2. Bundling Kinect 2 with Xbox One
3. RRoD or why rushing to market with hardware is always a bad idea.
4. Buying studios only to close them.
5. Ads on the Home Screen
6. Letting Halo die.
7. Letting Geard of War die.
8. Every console name
9. Charging for Xbox Live on Xbox 360 when Sony let PS3 players play online for free.
10. Cancelling release of OG Xbox games after the Xbox 360 launched.

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150°

Microsoft to Add Copilot AI to Video Games

Microsoft recently revealed its plans to incorporate Copilot directly into video games, with Minecraft being the first showcased example.

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xpgained.co.uk
Fishy Fingers8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

F*** AI

"Hey Copilot, what's a good meme to prove I dislike AI".... https://giphy.com/clips/sou...

Einhander19728d ago

Two trillion dollar company that just can't wait to put as many people possible out of work as fast as possible.

It feels like every single thing they do is making gaming worse and destroying the industry.

8d ago
8d ago
8d ago
darthv727d ago

....you know it takes people to program the AI.... right? It isnt like it is sentient. We haven't reach skynet level of situation or anywhere close to the matrix just yet.

That's next Thursday.

Einhander19727d ago (Edited 7d ago )

It takes a people to program the AI then that AI is used for who knows how many games eliminating countless jobs which only grows as AI is used for more and more game creation functions.

What you're saying is so ridiculously short sighted and truly larking any kind of understanding and foresight.

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CaptainFaisal8d ago

Why all the hate? Im actually excited about this! Always wanted this kind of immersion, and an AI companion with me all the time helping me out knowing the status of my skills/inventory/progress and giving me tips on the best approach or how to craft something specific is game changing for the industry.

Hate all you want about AI, but this is just the start and I can see the potential already. You wont be complaining in the next 5-10 years about this, but rather complain if a game hasn’t implemented it.

MrDead8d ago

Yes we can't wait for the work of others to be used without the need to pay them so that MS can profit even more from the people they fire.

I_am_Batman8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

There is no chance I'd ever use something like this, especially if it's not part of the core game design, but a layer on top of it. It's way too much handholding. Many games already feel like busy work, because they don't let the player figure things out on their own. Having a real-time interactive guide defeats the purpose of playing the game in the first place in my opinion.

If this were to become the standard like you predict, we'll see more and more video games get away with bad design, because people will just be used to ask for help from the AI companion anyway.

Number1TailzFan8d ago

Well Nintendo don't need this with some of their games these days, with invincible characters, items, easy bosses etc.. they do the hand holding built in

helicoptergirl8d ago

Takes "hand holding" in games to a whole new level.

BlackDoomAx7d ago

Because human nature xD Almost every new technology had these kind of comments.

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70°

Activision team is opening a new game studio in Poland 'Elsewhere Entertainment' to build new AAA IP

Microsoft's Activision subsidiary announced today that it is opening a new game development studio to take advantage of the huge talent pool growing in Poland. It'll be the second Activision studio based in the region, joining Infinity Ward Krakow, although this studio is, in fact, not working on Call of Duty.

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
Psychonaut8512d ago

They’re not working on Call of Duty? Give it time.