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Console modders banned from Xbox Live

Thou shalt not unscrew thy Xbox 360

You’d better watch out if you own a modified Xbox 360 and are a fan of Xbox Live - Microsoft has got its eye on you.

Major Nelson - aka Xbox Live’s Director of Programming, Larry Hryb - has posted a stern warning on his official blog stating that modification of an Xbox 360 – in order to play pirated games - is “a violation of the Xbox Live terms of use”.

He added that such actions will void your console’s warranty and see you booted off of Xbox Live, permanently.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking Nelson’s warning is an empty threat, because he claimed that Microsoft has already taken action against “a small percentage” of console modders.

“The health of the videogame business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services,” he said. “We will continue to employ and bolster anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy... and improve security in the Xbox Live community.”

You have been warned.

Latest Comments

Meh!

Microsoft are doing this as the NXE approaches, so that all the suckers go out and buy a new console.

They never tell you why you have been banned. Also it is not illegal to mod your console here in the UK and nowhere on their TOC's does it say about modding a console will get you banned.

Someone needs to come up with a better service than Live so that Microsoft will at least then feel as though they need to warrant why bans take place.

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We are now live ppl

Just think: if Counter Strike was available on the Xbox 360; Cheating would be almost impossible and not worth the effort! (nahh, too good to be true)

Admittedly, Microsoft does have its bright moments. (Well maybe not Steve Ballmer but thats beside the point.)

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Fair enough

As someone who pays for their games, pays for their Live subscription and plays fairly online, I don't have a problem with this. Perhaps it will lead to some of the banned players actually paying for their online gaming, in which case Microsoft might like to consider lowering the cost of Xbox Live Gold accounts slightly...

I'm not banking on it though!

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