Today Microsoft announced that it plans to shut down Xbox Live service for the original Xbox on April 15. According to Microsoft by discontinuing original Xbox support, it “will allow us to continue evolving the Live service.”
How does this affect you? Well, shutting down Xbox Live for the original Xbox means that all version one Xbox games that are playable on the Xbox 360, as well as Xbox Originals, will no longer be playable online.
Xbox Live general manager Mark Witten stated, “I want to start by saying this isn’t a decision we made lightly, but after careful consideration, it is clear this will provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox LIVE community.”
Why is this change coming about? According to Witten, there are some improvements coming to Xbox Live that just are not compatible with the Original Xbox and it’s games. He stated, “As we look down the road, we’ll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360.” He also added “To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games.”
What do you guys think about this? For me this has very little effect. I never really play any Xbox original titles, so I can’t complain. However, I can imagine that there are still some folks out there who play Halo 2 online and who will be incredibly pissed when they hear about this.
Source: Gamasutra.com
I’m actually surprised they’ve supported them as long as they have. If EA had a console, a new version would be released each year and you’d be required to upgrade to it within a month of the announcement.
Like I was saying earlier on Twitter, it’s a shame that if these fans bought some of these games on PC, they’d still be able to enjoy dedicated servers pretty much until they die (I meant the player, not the servers!)
It’s one huge disadvantage of owning a console: you’re at the mercy of the console publisher the majority of the time. Unbeknownst to many contemporary gamers, there are still tons of hardcore Halo 2, Mech Assault, Rainbow Six, and Counterstrike clans out there who operate on Xbox Live.
It hardly comes as a surprise, and I can’t say I’m too bothered, but it seems strange that they’re continually updating the “XBox Originals” library, while pulling the plug on their online functionality. I don’t see how terminating the original XBox’s Live service will really help with the progression of the 360′s though, and is it really worth angering the still substantial Halo2 online community?
I guess their focus groups REALLY wanted more than 100 friends 0n 360.
My dream of co-op Psychonauts has just been killed. Honestly, as long as the single-player games are still playable I’m ok with this.
well im going to seek legal action and here is why we have spent for our son allmost 9000.00 on his xbox he has 241 games he insisted we only buy games that play live (writen on the disk) average game was 42.00 to 26.00. im just not ok with the how and why ? i understand the bussiness end. but for once im looking out for the little guy… my son P.S. a few of you im sure will say if im so rich why not buy him an xbox360 Same reason why allmost none of the games where backwards compatable. with out a download… im looking out for my son because thats what dads do……..
joe
santa clarita ca
Joe, only online games when you have online for 360 are backwards compatable, for i play games like splinter cell and halo 2 on 360
I just earned iPod Nano Online by just doing a few surveys at . At first I expected a scam, and it proved worth my time!
i miss the orginal xbox look i got a 360 with mw3
who have xbox live on xbox360