Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

219 Comments

Xbox Live To Drop Original Xbox Support This April

Better get those last few games of MechAssault out of the way now...

Microsoft has stated its intent to discontinue Xbox Live service on the original Xbox console on April 15, 2010. The announcement comes in the form of a blog post addressed to Live members from Xbox Live's general manager, Marc Whitten

This move will extend to Xbox 360 owners, as well, meaning that original Xbox games that run via the 360's backwards compatibility feature as well as digitally downloaded Xbox Originals will also stop functioning online on 4/15. Offline play in games for the original Xbox should continue without issue, so feel free to break out that copy of Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus that I know you're sitting on.

The reasoning behind this move hasn't been completely spelled out, but the gist of it's right here:

To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games. We will contact the Xbox LIVE members directly impacted by this change and if this includes you, I encourage you to check your LIVE messages and associated e-mail account over the coming weeks for more details and opportunities. We view you as a partner in this process.

 
Whitten goes on to say that more details will be available "soon." Last year, Patrick Klepek over at G4 reported that continuing support for Halo 2--by far the most popular online game for the original Xbox--was preventing Microsoft from raising the limit on Xbox Live friend lists. Microsoft hasn't confirmed whether or not this is, in fact, the case. Currently, the list is capped at 100, as it has been since the service's launch back in 2002.

I don't think I've touched a game for the original Xbox since 2006. How about you?
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

219 Comments

Avatar image for rp108
rp108

11

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By rp108
@WEGGLES said:
" And nothing of value was lost.  Aside from a select few games, most servers are empty.  And if these empty servers are holding back stuff for new games get rid of them. Halo 2/Splinter Cell/Starwars BF are small prices to pay for new stuff. Out with the old in with the new. "
Agree. Played those games on Xbox. Would rather have friends list increase and more servers on games that are being played online with bigger communities.
Avatar image for patrickburns
PatrickBurns

2

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By PatrickBurns

i think its stupid why dont we email or call microsoft so we can keep the internet the xbox is no good without the internet i guess im going to have to sell it if we dont get microsoft to not do it

Avatar image for drwhat
drwhat

445

Forum Posts

3830

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 13

Edited By drwhat
@Fink said:
" You know what this means? No Halo 2, meaning friends lists limit will go up.  *Edit*  Might help if I read the article all the way before I post. Sorry, cool though  *Edit 2* Could you guys at Giantbomb do a server shutdown party like you did for the matrix and other MMOs? Everyone bust out your Xbox! "
They did server shutdown parties?
 
I bet Jeff already knows that Phantasy Star Universe is coming down in a bit. I wonder if we'll have some video entertainment from that.
Avatar image for nikbmth
NikBMTH

11

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By NikBMTH

Well, there goes my idea on buying an Xbox. -__-

Avatar image for bkfountain
bkfountain

105

Forum Posts

87

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By bkfountain

It's funny how these original xbox games had a longer run than some current gen games. It's also weird to consider that in 10 years, it'll still be easier to find old genesis and NES games than it would be to buy and play some XBLA games and DLC. Many games now won't even run right without patches, which could be impossible to get if MS or Sony decides to cut off support on future consoles. 

 As for Halo 2, maybe MS can even port over Halo 1 and 2 as XBLA titles with modern Live support and achievements. People would buy those..I would.

Avatar image for sammydesinasnl
SammydesinasNL

849

Forum Posts

168

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By SammydesinasNL

This makes me sad. My original xbox's lifespan is about six times that of an xbox 360.
Avatar image for maddprodigy
MaddProdigy

1074

Forum Posts

178

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By MaddProdigy
@chronicdog: hahaha lol
Avatar image for maddprodigy
MaddProdigy

1074

Forum Posts

178

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By MaddProdigy

WTF ORIGINAL XBOX STILL WORKS?

Avatar image for weggles
WEGGLES

737

Forum Posts

4

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By WEGGLES

And nothing of value was lost.
 
Aside from a select few games, most servers are empty.
 
And if these empty servers are holding back stuff for new games get rid of them. Halo 2/Splinter Cell/Starwars BF are small prices to pay for new stuff. Out with the old in with the new.

Avatar image for sekoku
Sekoku

106

Forum Posts

7

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 17

Edited By Sekoku

Them dropping service for a service I've paid for since that service launched = no $50/year for them.
 
The fact that I can't play Phantom Dust online with friends come April is enough for me to not support their services. 
 
At least if Steam/PSN/Wii shut-down servers, I didn't pay a dime for them. It's a fact of life, sun-rise/sun-set. But on XBL, I expect my $50/year to go to maintaining previous generations services. Too bad to find out that's wrong and I've given them $300 for nothing.

Avatar image for flipperdesert
FlipperDesert

2236

Forum Posts

40

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By FlipperDesert

Now they just need to add support for the Timesplitters games so I can actually care when they remove online support for them in April.

Avatar image for doogie2k
Doogie2K

217

Forum Posts

6751

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 3

Edited By Doogie2K

After getting my 360 in 9/08, I tested the backwards compatibility by popping in Burnout 3.  After playing around and going, "Yup, that's Burnout 3 alright," I put it back and never touched it again.  Gave my console and old games to a friend in exchange for my current gaming PC.

Avatar image for eightbitshik
EightBitShik

1517

Forum Posts

4547

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 9

Edited By EightBitShik

I haven't played an XBOX game in a long time. One of the reasons was the lack of support from Microsoft. I bought a few of those games and would of bought more had they come out with more titles.

Avatar image for vintoks
Vintoks

30

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Vintoks

I hate how they are s*** canning backwards compatibility support these days. There were a lot of great and unique games on the original system (besides Halo 2). Bad move imo.

Avatar image for leeroi
Leeroi

35

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By Leeroi

I always meant to fire up Star Wars Battlefront 2. I even bought the DLC for it. Oh well. I had a quick feeling of outrage at this announcement, but it subsided faster than I thought. XBox 1 has to be, at least for me and my friends, the most quickly abandoned console of our lives. We still play PS2, PS1, Gamecube, Dreamcast, and even SNES and NES titles on occasion, but I really can't remember the last XBOX 1 game I had a passing interest in, other than the one I previously mentioned, and that one more because of love of Star Wars than Xbox.

Avatar image for maxism
Maxism

49

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Maxism

Good riddance. The two people who were playing Halo 2 will be upset, but if it means that the service will improve, then I am all for it.
 
Oh, and it doesn't take long to get 100 friends. You would be surprised how many co-workers, friends, and family have an Xbox 360 and XBL. Maybe it is because of where I live, but it isn't difficult to get 100 friends if you are social. Plus it is made up of a lot of my old "gaming" friends back when I played WOW, and competitive Counter-Strike.

Avatar image for charleytony
CharleyTony

1024

Forum Posts

426

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 7

Edited By CharleyTony

Im at least gonna play a last few rounds of what Original Xbox game I still have.  
You never know what might be the incentive MS gives to people who still played the old stuff so they won't complain...
Avatar image for lordandrew
LordAndrew

14609

Forum Posts

98305

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 36

Edited By LordAndrew
@Stinky51012 said:
" brb oh no! no xbox live? how will i meet 13 year old racists who insult my mother? "
On the Xbox 360. But you won't be able to meet 13 year old racists or play with friends on old Xbox games.
Avatar image for mussbus999
mussbus999

415

Forum Posts

69

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 2

Edited By mussbus999

Thank you jeff for reassuring me about hearing that Halo 2 online support was the only reason that the XBL friends list stays at 100...I thought i may have gone crazy.... 
 
I hope this is the case and the friends list will be increased

Avatar image for wools
Wools

26

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 1

Edited By Wools


Considering they are dropping online features for the original, could they also be removing all online connectivity to Xbox 1? 
 
I ask as that could mean when you put an Xbox 1 game into a 360, it will not retreive online infomation to download the relevant emulator.  If so, that will end all backwards compatability for new 360's.

 

Let's hope Microsoft continue to offer the option to download the emulator when you put in an Xbox 1 disc...

Avatar image for wholefunshow
WholeFunShow

401

Forum Posts

1287

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 22

Edited By WholeFunShow

So I guess I'll never get around to the Ninja Gaiden Hurricane packs after all. I always wanted to exploit my way through such a hard game with the counter they decided unbalanced it. Farewell sweet Prince.

Avatar image for theroadhead
TheRoadHead

140

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By TheRoadHead

While i don't like the fact they are shutting down service (mainly because of steel battalion) it's understandable if the number  of current users playing are that low. I just figured since it is all the same service that even with the low numbers that since they are still maintaining for the 18 million people (or however many people it is) on  the 360 that it was just something that wasn't going to go away.   

   What i'm worried about is the future in  like 5-10 years with the xbox 360. I'm assuming that this might make any orginal xbox live arcade games unplayable.

 
I'd really like to have more details as to why they are doing this.

Avatar image for quacktastic
Quacktastic

1065

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Quacktastic
@natetodamax said:
" Kinda sucks, because I planned on getting Morrowind sometime in the future. "
Morrowind is SP only so it shouldn't be affected.  Just stuff that had online MP.
Avatar image for tie23
TiE23

265

Forum Posts

964

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 9

Edited By TiE23

For some reason I decided to play some Forza 1 a few months back on my original Xbox. And I think the last Xbox game I played on my 360 was JSRF... lol.

Avatar image for gamer_152
gamer_152

15032

Forum Posts

74588

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 71

User Lists: 6

Edited By gamer_152  Moderator

As a huge Halo fan I'll be unhappy to know that the Halo 2 online multiplayer will be gone forever. I much prefer the Halo 3 multiplayer but Halo 2 still offers different maps and custom matches and overall brings back different memories for me.

Avatar image for phaseshift
Phaseshift

226

Forum Posts

71

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By Phaseshift

Good, who wants tobe trapped in the past.

Avatar image for highstakes
highstakes

16

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By highstakes

Return to Castle Wolfenstein...that game pretty much convinced me that I need to shell out $50 for XBL. I think PGR2, and RTCW were the only two games that I played more online than the single player; dont think I even got past the second level on RTCW.

Avatar image for teh_kid
teh_kid

5

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By teh_kid

Thanks for reminding me that I still have a copy of Tao Feng: Fist of the Regretful Purchase

Avatar image for grilledcheez
grilledcheez

4071

Forum Posts

906

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 9

Edited By grilledcheez

That sucks, my cousin wanted to go back to Halo 2 soon too.

Avatar image for billysea
billysea

111

Forum Posts

24

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 10

Edited By billysea

This is the problem of having part of or all of our games being handle by the publisher. 
In the future, we can no longer break out our games from 20 years ago like what we are doing now and still enjoy 100% of it.  All the multiplayer we enjoy so much online (Modern Warfare, Left4Dead etc) will be gone someday and we can no longer experience it anytime we want.

Avatar image for infestedandy
infestedandy

363

Forum Posts

16

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 34

User Lists: 0

Edited By infestedandy

I'm not surprised that they're doing this since the new service is much better.
 
I'm upset that Halo 2 is going away forever. It was the best game out of the Halo series by far and that includes being the best online one too.

Avatar image for agilenate
AgileNate

107

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By AgileNate

Well if it leads to a better 360 experience than I'm all for it. It still wont effect my Single player games like Shenmue II and Jet Set Radio Future. When I think of xbox classics it makes me wonder why there is no new Crimson Skies. That game was so great and its something the 360 could use...

Avatar image for greedotherodian
greedotherodian

15

Forum Posts

4

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By greedotherodian

I still play Call of Cthullu: Dark Corners of the earth sometimes but as that doesnt have live capabilities I dont care!! :):)
Avatar image for madthad0890
MadThad0890

98

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By MadThad0890

DUDE! I was just at gamestop the other day thinking about buying Halo 2. good thing I didnt 

Avatar image for stefan
Stefan

594

Forum Posts

592

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 27

Edited By Stefan

Hmm I bought Breakdown, Rallisport Challenge 2 (for online play) and Shenmue 2 since the 360 launched. Got Shenmue like 2 weeks ago. The other two games one ore two years ago...

Avatar image for president_barackbar
President_Barackbar

3648

Forum Posts

853

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

@ZombiePie said:
" For now I'll give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt, but I bet that there has to be a reason for this. "
Yeah, you know what it is? They want people to buy new games.
Avatar image for zombiepie
ZombiePie

9227

Forum Posts

94836

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 19

Edited By ZombiePie

Honestly if the old architecture of the original Xbox live is holding back an improved Xbox live I have no problem with that. I'd like to see some changes to Xbox live if that means sacrificing a small community of gamers. For now I'll give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt, but I bet that there has to be a reason for this.

Avatar image for canadiantoastzombie
canadiantoastzombie

338

Forum Posts

1734

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 2

I play halo 2 alot, it's sad that it has to go.

Avatar image for alphonzo
Alphonzo

798

Forum Posts

545

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Alphonzo
SON OF A BITCH
Avatar image for natetodamax
natetodamax

19464

Forum Posts

65390

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 32

User Lists: 5

Edited By natetodamax

Kinda sucks, because I planned on getting Morrowind sometime in the future.

Avatar image for voodooterror
voodooterror

623

Forum Posts

67

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By voodooterror

/care

Avatar image for kyle
Kyle

2383

Forum Posts

6307

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 12

Edited By Kyle
Lind_L_Taylor said:

" It sounds ridiculous & utterly stupid. They have to eliminate network gaming in order to increase friends lists??  That doesn't even make sense!   One deals with networking & passing data back & forth to multiplayer servers, the other is stored values of a list on a hard drive or network.  Where is the connection?  Sounds like BS to me."

Microsoft never said this has anything to do with friends lists, that was just speculation from someone at G4.
Avatar image for kyle
Kyle

2383

Forum Posts

6307

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 12

Edited By Kyle

The only game I can even remotely consider feeling bummed about losing is (of course) Halo 2, but I think Halo 3 is way better anyways. OH WAIT!! No more Burnout 3: Takedown!! NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
 
But in all honesty, I don't really see this as a huge deal. We all knew this would happen eventually.

Avatar image for skytylz
Skytylz

4156

Forum Posts

9

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Edited By Skytylz

Man, no more halo 2

Avatar image for vlaphor
Vlaphor

259

Forum Posts

2

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Vlaphor

I was going to say, "Oh well" and just ignore this, but then I remembered that Street Fighter III Third Strike,  Capcom Vs Snk 2, and Guilty Gear XX are online playable over this service....now I'm sad.

Avatar image for donkey_kong
Donkey_Kong

119

Forum Posts

413

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

Edited By Donkey_Kong

Oh man!!! I still play Conker's Live and Reloaded every so often on my 360 through Live. This is so lame!

Avatar image for brunchies
Brunchies

2501

Forum Posts

26

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By Brunchies

I don't have a huge problem with this since I never play original xbox games online but it's still a bummer that it's going to be dropped. 

Avatar image for chronicsmoke
chronicsmoke

1033

Forum Posts

179

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 20

Edited By chronicsmoke

well it looks like I better play me some chaos theory
Avatar image for blackpuma
BlackPuma

72

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By BlackPuma

I pop in Conker once in a while. But that's about it.