Starting next week, Microsoft will take aim at unofficial storage devices for the Xbox 360, rendering them useless for some console owners.
Microsoft is giving select users a sneak preview of an upcoming Xbox 360 system update, which adds features such as Facebook and Twitter integration and the Internet radio service Last.fm. However, Xbox Live's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb wrote in a blog post that anyone who installs the update will no longer be able to use unauthorized storage devices. Any data left on those devices, including saved games and stored profiles, will be locked out after the update.
Hryb was effectively giving Xbox 360 owners fair warning to offload their data onto official Xbox storage products, which are more expensive than third-party offerings. It's not clear whether the update will lock out third-party memory when it's released to all Xbox 360 owners.
The most notable third-party memory maker is Datel, who sells 2 GB and 4 GB Max Memory cards for $40 and $60, respectively. Microsoft's official memory card stores 512 MB and costs $30. Datel told CVG that it is "disappointed to see that Microsoft are taking these steps to prevent customers from exercising their freedom of choice."
Modders who have installed their own hard drives into the console may also be affected, though they are already in violation of Microsoft's terms of service. What's most troubling is that Microsoft is punishing users who did no wrong by purchasing a third-party memory card. And as CVG notes, the decision could have broader implications. Will Microsoft ultimately try to lock out all unauthorized third-party devices, such as head sets and controllers?
If they do, it's a low blow to people who were trying to save money and didn't break any rules.
