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'MS rep' claims he predicted NXE RRoD woes

Told you so...

A Microsoft customer service representative (CSR) predicted that the New Xbox Experience (NXE) would cause downloaders Red Ring of Death (RRoD) woes, it has been claimed.

Earlier this month, blog Gaming Confidential published a quote from the unnamed CSR - said by the site to be a "trusted source" - who alleged: “Our department is bracing itself from [sic] irate callers after the update is released.”

He specifically mentioned the “three red lights of death”, better known as the $1bn RRoD problem.

Whether or not the rep informed Microsoft bosses about his fears is not known.

But the CSR’s prediction was, nonetheless, accurate. Following NXE’s launch last week, gaming forums became clogged with angry comments from console owners who'd suffered the RRoD after installing the update.

It's not clear whether incidences of post-NXE RRoDs are higher in number than RRoDs arising from other system updates.

Microsoft spokesman Major Nelson later admitted that the company was “aware some of you may be experiencing a few hiccups along the way”, though he never specifically mentioned the RRoD.

The Microsoft CSR also said that NXE was released just a few days after the extended warranty period for launch Xbox 360s ended. However, the Xbox 360 – which was last year granted a three-year warranty by Microsoft as a result of the RRoD - was released in the US on 22 November 2005, and NXE was released to the masses on 20 November 2008.

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