Xbox 360 loses remote

Limited-edition mini Media Remote Control with premium pack runs out; preorders being filled now out of luck.

When the Xbox 360 made its grand launch in North America last November, gamers who got hold of the hard-to-find premium pack were treated to a few extras. In addition to a 20GB hard drive, a wireless controller, and HD AV cables, early adopters got a limited-edition Xbox 360 Media Remote Control. Though chances of finding an Xbox 360 are remote, the chances of finding one with the bonus remote are even more...remote.

The limited run of bonus Media Remote Controls is apparently over. A GameStop employee has confirmed to GameSpot that the bonus remotes have not been shipping with the Xbox 360 Premium Packs that have been trickling into their stores. This means that Xbox 360 preorders that still remain unfulfilled--and may very well have been placed months ago--won't be getting the controller. GameSpot has received unconfirmed reports that the discontinuation has infuriated gamers who preordered the console long ago expecting the remote to be included.

All is not lost, though. Gamers looking to get a TV-style remote control to play DVDs and whatnot can still pony up for Microsoft's Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote ($29.99) or Logitech's Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360 ($129.99).

116 Comments

  • doohuh

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 5:33 pm PT

    I want a remote - it's pretty neat looking

    p.s. -------- look at this date compared to the others

  • jcam432002

    Posted Feb 5, 2006 1:08 pm PT

    please. you think gamestop should offer all those customers a free remote anyways? give your head a shake. it's certainly not their fault.

  • AceCometh

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 7:52 am PT

    I could care less about the the limited edition remote. I just want to find a store that actually has the console in stock! The deep south in the U.S. gets the back burner while everyone else in the world gets first take. We haven't had any since the initial launch around here!

  • Adada2011

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 1:59 pm PT

    Yea poor people with there preorders. I feel bad for them. Yea they should give them all free stuff lol

  • GreyFoxV1

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    Wow alot of people are going to feel pretty ghipped.

  • mezonesxbox

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 1:51 pm PT



    I DOnt really care my Media Center Remote also works with my 360!! : P

  • pie4u

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 1:44 pm PT

    That sucks for those of you who preordered and didnt get it yet.

  • CheatRZ

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    I don't know why everyone thinks they have to go out and buy the $130 Logitech remote if they didn't get the one that came with the system.. Go to Best Buy or Walmart and get the $30 remote for the 360 by Microsoft. It's better than the free-bees anyway.

  • Khimarhi

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 12:59 pm PT

    that's just wrong. Pre-orders should get something extra in return since they have been waiting since before launch day

  • ThePhantomVI

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 12:06 pm PT

    I was thinking about picking up one of those Logitech remotes anyway, since they're Mac compatable, too. But then I saw the price! Gah!

  • DarkleafNight

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 12:04 pm PT

    Wonder if Gamestop.com and Microsoft have ever heard of "Bait and Switch"? Don't be surprised if this touches off a class action lawsuit against both of them. Microsoft overstated their ability to meet the demand for their product, and Gamestop.com advertised the remote as an incentive to pre-order. Whether or not this was a "limited run" has nothing to do with the way it was advertised, and if Gamestop was smart they would offer to include the $29.99 remote with these early pre-orders to head off a lawsuit. even if they did it for $10.00 the approximate difference in value between the mini-remote and the universal one. But as gamers, with the merger of Gamestop and EB, don't expect to be treated fairly since this have effective eliminated all competition in the games market. Meaning that most other major retailers never have games on launch dates, usually the following Tuesday, and most gamers, including myself won't wait another week to get a game that they have waited on for 2 to 3 years in development

  • luca_III

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 11:57 am PT

    I see why every one is complaining, but said it was limited edition and so it isn’t really that much of a shock. I’m not getting my 360 till the summer holidays which is about 5 months away so I was never going to get one and it was quite clear to me that unless you got one at or near launch you weren’t going to get one. Plus I think that if you want to use it as a media centre then you should get the full media remote. It’s just a risk you take when it says limited edition.

  • DarthLad

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 11:45 am PT

    This is all crap. I was unlucky enough to preorder my 360 at GameStop. If anything people who have to wait for months should get something extra! I ordered it back in August and I still don't have one and I'm not getting a damn remote. I have to spend another 30 for it. This is the last time I'm going to GameStop.

  • chaos_theory_09

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 11:44 am PT

    Its just a remote. I've had my xbox since launch and I have only used my remote once. The controler works just as well.

  • edubuccaneer Site moderator

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 11:39 am PT

    That's ridiculous. Now people that paid to have the remote are going to be 'out of luck'? They paid for the darn thing, they should get it or get a refund for it... that's why you can't never trust pre-orders, something fishy always happens.

  • DrKill09

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 10:45 am PT

    well, I don't know if it's proper to call what people have now "pre-orders". The console has been out for months, and the smart people who preordered early have theirs. I have my remote. HAHA!

  • Phantsy16

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 10:02 am PT

    hmm, i have a remote with my xbox 360 : /

  • Griffinhart

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 9:44 am PT

    I finally got my 360 that I paid for in September and was dismayed to not find a remote. If you plan on using the 360 as an extender for Media Center it's pretty much required. The wireless gaming controller technically works, but it's about as functional as operating windows without a mouse. Sure you can, but it's ugly.

  • Mullinator

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 9:39 am PT

    $130 for a remote? Heh, i'm betting buying a Rev remote from Nintendo will be less than half that.

  • Dayme

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 9:17 am PT

    leave it to m$ to dissappoint its fan base, cant say this is unexpected

  • santana4064

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 9:17 am PT

    this is dissapointing, because people that preordered were expecting that remote, but i'm sure its no big deal, can't you guys use the controller (game pad etc) to play a dumb movie?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Cynin

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 8:37 am PT

    That is $soft for you. The game stores should at the very least compensate you somehow for being sold a bundle that now isn't the same bundle you purchased.

  • nrt25

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 8:12 am PT

    Who cares, that remote sucked it couldn't even control my TV....

    Yeah the 360 is going to flop now that they don't come with a free useless remote anymore.... Yeah right Microsoft haters, in your dreams.

  • inferno394

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 7:52 am PT

    If microsoft has so much money, tell them to hire more workers to get there systems out on time. With over 200 billion in assets at ur disposal U would think they could get something done. Screw xbox 360. I have better graphics on my PC and it olny cost me $500. As much money as people have spent on the 360, the're PC could be waaaaaaaaaay better. Besides the gaming industry needs a change especially with how games play. The same old plug n play is boring and ancient. Time for a change.

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 7:47 am PT

    That junk already flopped.

  • jameston80

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 7:32 am PT

    Exactly, Gamestop should give everyone a free remote, they took the preorders, they should please their customers, I'll place money they wont, you know why? They are a big corporation, they just dont care!!!! All they want is money, money, money, granted I want money too, but I never pre-ordered any systems for my customers at my small store, because I knew something like this would eventually happen, and not to mention the shortage problem too. If they took the pre-orders they should live up to what they promised their customers.

  • Optimusv2

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 7:32 am PT

    For the misinformed kid that compared the 360 to the dreamcast. How much money does microsoft have compared to sega or even sony? I thought so.

    Sony's market cap in the stock market is like a max of 49 billion whereas microsoft is as high as 280 billion... the 360 end up like the dreamcast?? No chance in hell.

  • Optimusv2

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 7:28 am PT

    Its not microsoft's responsibility they are LIMITED EDITION remotes meaning not all consoles will come with them!!

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 7:17 am PT

    This truly sucks for those who preordered a long time ago and STILL don't have their 360's yet.

  • ufopuller

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 6:58 am PT

    If it can not turn on my DVD and TV, what good is it?

  • stevenj05

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 6:33 am PT

    HAHAHA!!!! thats why i didnt preorder mine...people who preorder systems are morons....didnt you think another 1000 were going to do the same thing...hahaha

  • inferno394

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 6:16 am PT

    $129 for a remote? Microsoft is smoking dat wakky bakky!!! U feel me cuz?!!!

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:36 am PT

    I switched mine on on November 22nd. That's not the point.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:27 am PT

    Glad I had mine. Also..., I had no problem with my pre-order, everything went fine! on 2nd of December I was switching it on. I guess Portugal rocks!

  • forever_blank

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:23 am PT

    @##$ that! That is not cool. I pre-ordered ages ago... wow now remote.... ssss (Nintendo Fan At Heart)

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:15 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:14 am PT

    Limited Edition doesn't even come into the equation when there are people who preordered the 360 who aren't getting one. For people who buy one off the shelf now I can say yeah, Limited Edition. That doesn't excuse it for the people who preordered who are getting shafted.

  • tartar23

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:13 am PT

    haha , suckers ...... I got the Bonus remote - na na nana .... lol

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 4:59 am PT

    hence......limited edition.

  • joyer

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 4:58 am PT

    bah microsoft didnt really plan this very well... oh well if it gets a head start on the others i guess theyll be counting their money either way... more so

  • CougarTai

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 4:52 am PT

    I ended up getting the Logitech Harmony remote anyway ...

  • Wayne

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 4:20 am PT

    I got the remote with mine, but the Limited Time "freebie" does not have numerals to change channels, or fill forms, when using as a Media Center extender. For me, that renders the freebie useless anyway.

  • OPOLO

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 4:18 am PT

    Hmm - now might be a good time for me to place my remote on eBay

  • blackdamage

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 3:06 am PT

    Well, I've had the console since day one (in Europe) and the remote came with it. It's been useful until now. But I use my 360 for DVDs too. For gamers only, it's not so important.

  • ALLoY1717

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 3:04 am PT

    If I was a waiting pre order 360 customer I would be so pissed. But the non-inclusion of the remote isn't really the biggest thing in the world, and doesn't bother me too much, particually because now I have reason to get the full remote.

  • badster

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 2:31 am PT

    what is with this 20 gig hardrive...mine is only 13

  • Swampthing

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 2:21 am PT

    When I picked up my Xbox 360 premium last month, it didn't have the sticker either and no remote was inside. No big deal for me, I was satisfied just to get my hands on a 360!

  • axnubis

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 12:44 am PT

    Good thing I got mine,

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 12:17 am PT

    FYI anyone interested, newegg has the $130 remotes for $95.99 and thats still BEFORE the $30 rebate. I dont have any use for one but I figured I would give a heads up in case anyone was.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 31, 2006 11:30 pm PT

    what's so great about the remote?

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