Giant Bomb News

RSS

Xbox Live To Drop Original Xbox Support This April

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

By Jeff Gerstmann  |  Feb. 5, 2010

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?
Filed under: Xbox
218 Comments
Finkon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:39 a.m.
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!
Turbo_Toaster staff on Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:41 a.m.
Let's get some rounds of MechAssault in oh god
Captain_Insano is online on Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:43 a.m.
Presumably there should be little uproar about this at it is a sensible move....this is the internet however so lets see how it pans out.
Pepsimanon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:44 a.m.
Kind of surprised this didn't already happen, to be honest. I guess I had just figured it was something that had taken place without much fanfare or anything. Ah well. That being said, I'm curious if the LAN tunneling services for Xbox games that support LAN-based multiplayer is still up and running. If so, I imagine that would probably work okay as a substitute for those still wanting to get together online for some Halo 2 online or something.
JJWeathermanon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:44 a.m.
I still have a bunch of Xbox Original games but they are almost all better single-player experiences. The only exception may be crimson skies, but dude, it's been years since I have payed that game.
piropeople13on Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:44 a.m.
I haven't been able to play some of my favorite original xbox games online since I signed in for the first time on my 360 and it arbitrarily prevented me from going online on my old xbox.  Combine that with the crappy backwards compatibility with the 360 (less than half of my original xbox games are supported), and you have the sad fact that the original xbox live have essentially been discontinued for many people for years.
CharlesAlanRatliffon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:44 a.m.
If people are going to start having over 100 friends, they REALLY need to give us more control over Notifications. I am interested in messages and achievements, but I absolutely could not care less about someone signing on unless we are going to be playing together (which is what a message is for).
Willon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:44 a.m.
That sucks, stilled played a few originals on my 360 >_<
Bones8677on Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:46 a.m.
Oh boo...
 
It makes sense though. 
 
I just replayed Halo a few months back.
Holographic_Charizardon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:46 a.m.
I don't ever play Halo 2 online anymore, but it was nice knowing in the back of my mind that I could at anytime. oh well.
Arjunaon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:46 a.m.
I played Psychonauts as a backwards compatible game...  but I will not miss any online play, or support...  This is great news!  I'm tired of having to filter through my friends list to figure out who stays and who goes...  Everyone should be able to stay!!!
BurningStarIVon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:47 a.m.
That is exciting. Not that I really have the problem of not having enough room for all my friends...
However it is sad to hear that they are killing the support for games, no matter how old they may be. There is that part of me that wants to yell "Get with the program and just play Halo 3!" and I suppose that is a fairly rational thought. I guess its just sad to see them shut down a game that I spent so much time playing. Ahhh, Memories...
Snapstacleon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:47 a.m.
XBC and Xlink Kai, use 'em. 
 
Seriously, because XBL is a P2P network, most games that support online on Xbox have a LAN option anyway, with voice chat and everything. 
 
Also, let's start a list of worthwhile games on Xbox 1 that have never been updated, I'll throw in Phantom Dust.
Finkon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:48 a.m.
@Will: I wounder if that counts? Would playing Xbox 1 games on a 360 still work? Since you are on a 360 environment, which is most likely comminicating differently. 
jahLaneyon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:50 a.m.
The only online I'll miss is Halo 2. But there's always LAN.
dankempsteron Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:50 a.m.
I when I first read the title of this, I misread it and somehow construed that the 360's backwards compatibility was being dropped. Then I read the article, and breathed a sigh of relief. I still have the first Fable and more of Morrowind to play!
timelesstheeon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:51 a.m.
@Fink: It says that the Xbox 360 will be affected in the same way the original xbox is. i.e. No live support for backwards compatible Xbox games.
JJOR64on Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:51 a.m.
I guess I better play some Hyper Street Fighter 2 and 3rd Strike online before it dies.
SCOOTMANon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:52 a.m.
well those Halo 2 players are gonna be real upset. Though the only original Xbox game I would play is KOTOR and i can get that off Steam now.
Btw : do any of you have 100 Xbox Live friends?
Atomic_Tangerineon Feb. 5, 2010 at 12:52 a.m.
I don't get why they have to shut down a P2P network... I mean, I'm sure there are real reasons and stuff, but as an angry consumer at home, I don't care about the reasons things don't work goldarnit! But yeah... I haven't played any original Xbox game online in a real long time. Still, I pay $50 a month and if I want to play a round of Chaos Theory years after the game came out, I should be able to!

Dig Deeper into Xbox

Microsoft's first home gaming system and one of the first to include an internal hard drive and built in online play capability. It was considered the first console to have fully supported meaningful online play.

Edit/View the Wiki
Hit the Forums (23 Posts)
Add/View Images (44 Images)
Watch Some Videos
Popular News
Diablo III Sells 3.5 Million Copies In its First Day Alone

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is now the fastest-selling PC game of all time.
38 Studios Unveils its First Look at Project Copernicus

In the wake of the studio's recent financial drama, the studio finally opens the door on its long-awaited MMO.
Wii U’s Controller May Have Seen Some Changes

No more Circle Pad-style analog sticks, and some swapped button placement.
Johann Sebastian Joust Is Latest iOS Cloning Victim

Studio behind awfully similar game for iOS claims an agreement was in place.
And Now Aliens: Colonial Marines Won't Be Coming Out This Year, Either

Gearbox's Aliens side-story slips to February.
38 Studios Pays its $1.125 Million Debt, Will Receive No Additional Funds from State

Oh, and the governor of Rhode Island just tossed out a release date for "Copernicus."
Activision Lawsuit Has Details on Bungie’s Next Game

First game scheduled for Xbox 360, sequels on unannounced platforms.
Worth Reading: 05/18/2012

You have 20 seconds to click on this article and discover what games you might have missed and what stories passed you by.
Diablo III Sells 3.5 Million Copies In its First Day Alone

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is now the fastest-selling PC game of all time.
38 Studios Unveils its First Look at Project Copernicus

In the wake of the studio's recent financial drama, the studio finally opens the door on its long-awaited MMO.
Wii U’s Controller May Have Seen Some Changes

No more Circle Pad-style analog sticks, and some swapped button placement.
Johann Sebastian Joust Is Latest iOS Cloning Victim

Studio behind awfully similar game for iOS claims an agreement was in place.
38 Studios Pays its $1.125 Million Debt, Will Receive No Additional Funds from State

Oh, and the governor of Rhode Island just tossed out a release date for "Copernicus."
And Now Aliens: Colonial Marines Won't Be Coming Out This Year, Either

Gearbox's Aliens side-story slips to February.
Activision Lawsuit Has Details on Bungie’s Next Game

First game scheduled for Xbox 360, sequels on unannounced platforms.
Worth Reading: 05/18/2012

You have 20 seconds to click on this article and discover what games you might have missed and what stories passed you by.

Submissions can take several hours to be approved.

Save ChangesCancel