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Microsoft Shutting Down Original Xbox Live Servers

News

by Tim Turi on February 05, 2010 at 12:10 PM

11,459 Views

135 2

Whether you’re still playing games on that enormous black box or playing old titles on the 360, come April 15 you’re no longer going to be able to do so online.

Microsoft’s first step is disabling subscription auto-renewal for those playing on Live via the original Xbox. We assume this means that if you're playing Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory on the 360 rather than the original Xbox, you will still have your subscription renewed.

With the original Xbox Live out of the way, Microsoft Live general manager Marc Whitten claims it will be able to better evolve the current Live service with “new features and experiences.” Whitten also says this will allow Microsoft “unprecedented flexibility for future features.”

One possible positive from the original Xbox Live shutting down is that it may finally end the current friends list cap of 100. An anonymous Microsoft representative previously stated that the capacity of the current friends list is limited because Halo 2’s friends list could only contain 100. With the Halo 2 servers down, this roadblock could potentially give everyone a larger friends list.

Anyone out there who's going to miss playing some of the original Xbox games online?

Source: Major Nelson's Blog

Email the author Tim Turi, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, Microsoft, Xbox Live, friends list

Comments

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by Vote 4 Pedro Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:14 PM

Or, instead of shutting down EVERY Black Box network, how about getting rid of the ones that aren't used anymore? I understand the need to expand and all, but there is still a decent amount of people who play games like Battlefront or Halo 2 or Splinter Cell online. Just get rid of what's unnecessary, rather than alienating an entire console generation.
by George Stancer Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:23 PM

this is stupid i agree. i never had live on the original but i agree they should keep them
by Jammin Jones Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:24 PM

I didn't even know this network was still up and running. I'm surprised it had enough support to continue to 2010!
by new traditionalist Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:26 PM

conker...
by LostButSeeking Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:28 PM

I understand that some people still play Halo 2 online, but there are a lot of people (including me) that have to delete a friend every time we want to make a new one. If this is the trade-off, I think the benefits outweigh the sacrifices.

Besides, the Xbox generation is LONG over. At some point you have to move on.
by Odd Samuel Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:31 PM

Seems too soon, but that's just my opinion.
by Triller Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:42 PM

I think I may have to hit up some Halo 2 before it's online is gone forever. Sad really.
by Joely Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:51 PM

Good riddance, let it die already.

Microsoft stopped releasing titles for the system years ago. its time to move on.
by ComachoDan Friday, February 05, 2010 at 12:54 PM

Now we can make robots out of the old black boxes.....im just saying...
by dylan Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:01 PM

Not really, and I feel bad for anyone who still is playing Original xbox online. But I will say that SW Battle front 2 was still a bit fun to play every know and then.
by Jim Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:02 PM

ahhhh no more halo 2...:(
by Jim Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:02 PM

ahhhh no more halo 2...:(
by Suicidalcale Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:03 PM

@comachodan I hope that was a Ctrl+Alt+Del reference. If so kudos.
by Steez Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:15 PM

I guess I'm biased because back in the day I had a ps2 and not an xbox, but now I have a 360 and I think it will be progressive to have expanded Live features because of this.

But I always hate to see games die out just because they are old.. seems unfair. I agree with the statement that they should keep servers active that are actually used.
by saltydawg Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:21 PM

Yeah it's time to move on. Why waste money on keeping these servers open anyways?
by Matthew Seeley Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:21 PM

*sniff* I'll be there for the Halo 2 rally if I can. :(
by GWNightmare Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:23 PM

It may seem to soon to some people but just think about the dates for a second. If The Xbox 360 came out in 2005 (which it did), that means the new generation has been going on for almost 5 years now.

And shutting down the servers marks the end of support for the original xbox, which itself had a 5 year run...so...

Microsoft is kind of doing the 10-year life-cycle just like Sony, no?
by drummernamedpat Friday, February 05, 2010 at 01:27 PM

They have allowed several years for people to transition to the 360 and most games on the old system that are being played have had a successor...time to move on.