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Firmware Troubles For Old Xbox 360s, Possibly PS3s As Well

Posted by Soulskill on from the if-it-ain't-broke dept.

Several readers have tipped news of firmware updates causing problems for both Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. The Xbox issue was caused by a recent update thought to be preparing the platform for a new disc format that gives developers another 1GB or so of space to work with. As it turns out, the real purpose seems to be piracy countermeasures. Microsoft acknowledged the issue and promised that affected users would receive a new 360S console and a free year of Xbox Live to compensate. The PS3 problem was highlighted by reports of overheating consoles while playing L.A. Noire on the recently-released 3.61 firmware. Rockstar Games initially confirmed that the firmware was causing the overheating, but later backtracked. They issued a joint statement with Sony saying that neither the game nor the firmware was the culprit, leaving users wondering what else it could be.

3 of 196 comments (clear)

  1. Say what you like about Microsoft... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...but this is how you do customer service.

    Microsoft acknowledged the issue and promised that affected users would receive a new 360S console and a free year of Xbox Live to compensate.

    Acknowledge the problem, fix it (or replace it in this case with a superior model), and give compensation.

    No nonsense customer service, and it gives gives them good PR.

    Compare that to Sony...

    1. Re:Say what you like about Microsoft... by Gadget_Guy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Acknowledge the problem, fix it (or replace it in this case with a superior model), and give compensation.

      To be fair, Microsoft have had quite a bit of experience with replacing defective Xbox consoles. This is probably the second item on their customer service checklist after turning the unit off and on again fails.

  2. Re:joint statement with Sony by Spad · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sony would never be so evil as to threaten Rockstar Games with new firmware that prevents all Rockstar Games' games from working at all.

    Even Sony wouldn't be that stupid.