Microsoft bans modified Xboxes

Microsoft is to ban modified Xbox 360 consoles from connecting to its Xbox LIVE online gaming service in an unpopular attempt to beef up security.

The company has stated that the move is to ensure that no players have an unfair edge on the online gaming community but most believe that its Microsoft’s way of reducing game piracy. Players that have altered the firmware software on their consoles to play pirated Xbox games will no longer be able to connect online. Instead, they will now be greeted by this message:

“This console has been banned for violations of the Terms of Use. To protect the Xbox Live service and its members, Microsoft does not provide details about console bans. There is no recourse for Terms of Use violations.”

The recent move coincides with the release of a playable beta of the forthcoming Halo 3 game on the retail version of Crackdown. In recent weeks, Crackdown has been heavily pirated by gamers wanting to check out what the hugely anticipated Halo 3 will be like.

Although players will be unable to get online with their ‘modded’ consoles, their LIVE accounts will not be deleted, Microsoft claimed. They will still be able to access them using an un-modified console. Player feedback on the company’s official Xbox blog, Gamerscore, has been predominantly outraged.