Microsoft Targets Pirates With Mass Xbox Console Banning

If you illegally download and play games on a modded Xbox 360 console, there’s a good chance your reign of piracy has just come to an end. Microsoft has just unleashed a massive wave of bans, targeting illegally modified consoles.

“We have taken action against a small percentage of consoles that have been modified to play pirated game discs,” a Microsoft spokesperson told IGN. “In line with our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community, we are suspending these modded consoles from Xbox LIVE.”

Forums were flooded Friday night as gamers complained about being unable to connect to Xbox Live. Microsoft didn’t give much details as to how many people were banned, only to say modified consoles violate the Xbox Live terms of use.

“All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE,” the spokesperson added. “The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them.”

[Via IGN]