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Xbox 360 failures 'well behind us' - Microsoft

Following a controversial survey, Xbox 360 director of product management Aaron Greenberg claims manufacturing improvements are making the console's hardware issues a thing of the past.

The Red Ring of the Death is becoming increasingly rare, says Microsoft.

The Red Ring of the Death is becoming increasingly rare, says Microsoft.

In 2007, facing increasing reports of Xbox 360 hardware failures, Microsoft made a dramatic move. Just before that year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, it announced that it would extend the console's warranty to three years from its manufacture date for the so-called "Red Ring of Death." Although that move cost the company over $1 billion, it further broadened the 360's warranty this past April to cover another issue known as the "E74 error."

Despite Microsoft's attempts to improve manufacturing quality, the Xbox 360 was recently accused of still having an alarmingly high failure rate by a Game Informer survey. Some 54.2 percent of 5,000 subscribers to the magazine said they had at least one Xbox 360 fail, with 41.2 percent saying they had at least two hardware failures. Though avoiding specifics on failure rates, Xbox Live and Xbox 360 director of product management Aaron Greenberg admitted the early production lines of the 360 were beset by problems.

Aaron Greenberg.

Aaron Greenberg.

"I can tell you the consoles we're making today have lower-heat chips and better cooling, and we're seeing fantastic quality in those consoles today," Greenberg told GameSpot today. "That said, I know people have had issues with systems, which were bought earlier in the life cycle, and that's part of the reason why we implemented our unprecedented three-year warranty for anyone who gets the three red-ring flashing light error or the E74 error."

He continued, "So I think we've made it clear we stand by the quality of our product, and we will make it right by fixing the problem at no extra cost to you. But at the same time, we've been working hard to make improvements in the products we're currently making, so I really feel like most of this is well behind us." Greenberg then repeated that the three-years-from-manufacture-date red-ring/E74 error warranty remains in effect for all 360s already on the market--and will extend into the future to those currently being made.

637 Comments

  • Darth_Slayer

    Posted Sep 2, 2009 12:19 pm GMT

    According to a study by warranty provider Squaretrade, the RROD rates has fallen with the introduction of the Jasper chips:

    http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/study-xbox-360-rrod-on-the-decline/

  • KaizerJinn

    Posted Sep 2, 2009 12:10 pm GMT

    yea they 'FIX' RROD, but there's already new issues popping up with their consoles... =/

  • GeeBash

    Posted Sep 1, 2009 10:55 pm GMT

    Was this a PR statement or was it an interview, I see no questions put to the Microsoft representative.
    I find this an odd response considering the Xbox 360 I have already suffered from RRoD even though it was manufactured January of this year.

  • Darth_Slayer

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 11:00 pm GMT

    And here's a good article on 360s and PS3s breaking down -

    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-system-failure-article?page=2

    The most important lesson? Stop playing and storing your consoles in poorly ventilated areas.

  • Darth_Slayer

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 10:41 pm GMT

    And yet we have PS3 fanboys here taking the piss out of a survey so they can demonize rival consoles. It's pathetic really. Remember the PS2 and its disc read errors, which $ony refused to admit and charged $100 for repairs until a lawsuit was taken against them? PS fanboys have no right to preach to others on console failures.

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 6:38 am GMT

    so I guess we disregard the surveys because microsoft has the highest morals in the industry and should be trusted without question. effin funny. this made me check my calendar ... i thought it was april fools. lol! i can't stop laughing. imagine that face actually saying such b******t.

  • mpeg3s

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 6:04 am GMT

    The failures won't completely be behind until MS redesigns the 360 and uses .45nm.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 2:01 am GMT

    I'm sorry but the 360 has been out for almost 4 years and it is NOW that they say they have fixed the problem? That is totally unacceptable in my opinion and all of you, both M$ fanboys or otherwise, should agree with that.

  • infestedcyborg1

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:40 pm GMT

    @Justforfun44, so because i state a FACT on the 360 ROD you call me a ps3 fanboy? lol.

    I own a ps3 1 of which did die on me i wont deny that, but then on the other hand ive also owned 9 360's due to the ROD. Im no fanboy i love gaming just hate to see a console that is made so s*** and to have a high fail rate.

    So as it was redesigned it makes it better? lol you would think so right... Working in Game i still see unhappy customers coming back into store with dead 360's also people calling in on phone complaining there 360 is dead. So like i said will beleive this when i see it.

    Well lets be honest about the warrenty they kind of have to seeing as there console will ROD no matter if its 5 mins old or 2 years old.

  • LordRaymond

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 8:13 pm GMT

    @Justforfun44

    Ya go compare the failure rate of PS3 YLOD to the 360 RROD and see how much the difference is. Your comment was fail.

  • -Nintendude-

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 2:03 pm GMT

    How come I read this story today just few hours after I got the damn RRoD on my console... Not sure if it had those "lower-heat chips" and "better cooling" which was mentioned in the article, it was bought over a year ago.

  • otaku_momo

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 1:11 pm GMT

    Justforfun44-notice how when the rrod is mentioned, 360 fanboys bring up ylod, and try to exaggerate the percent of it. But try to defend MS and say they fixed it with the new Bull**** chip. And I wouldn't say they have the "best" warranty, when it only covers what shouldn't have ****ed up in the first place

  • Justforfun44

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 12:39 pm GMT

    infestedcyborg1 - Xbox 360 was redesigned over a year ago. Microsoft backs the 360 with the best warranty in the business. RROD mainly lives in the imagination of PS3 fans. You know the same place where PS3 rules the gaming world. Maybe you are thinking about PS3 YLOD?

  • infestedcyborg1

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 12:08 pm GMT

    lol... how about the next console you make MS, you make it so it works and that no one will be wondering when its going to die cos lets be honest its only a matter of time before the 3 red rings show on any 360. No matter how old or new said machine is. There are some lucky people out there that have had there machine since launch with no problems but that doesnt mean anything with the 360 it will ROD. Ive been working in Game for a few years and have seen so many come back so i will beleive this when i see it.

  • otaku_momo

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 9:31 am GMT

    Sure Microsoft, how many times have you claimed that you "fixed" the red-ring? I honestly do not see how people will still buy consoles from M$, even when they know it's going to break, its pathetic really.

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 1:27 am GMT

    If u don't trust 360 its simple.....DON'T BUY ONE, play with urself.
    i HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE 2006

  • trw534

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 9:28 pm GMT

    good job

  • WNxUSA

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 4:42 pm GMT

    Sure! What ever you say M$. IDK why anyone buys a console from a software company who still hasn't got its **** together sense windows 95. Look at Vista... There on the 2nd service pack and they have the capability to make it use less ram like Windows 7 (Thou windows 7 still eats a ton of ram...). Not to mention i've known quite a few people who bought a new 360 and it died less than 2 weeks later. My PS3 is a 60GB March 2007 (few months before the 60GB was Phased out) and hasn't had a single hick-up yet. I dust it once a week like i do my HDTV, Desktop, Laptop and i clean the laser once a week with a product that's made for blu-ray players and qualified to work with PS3's/360's.

    They can go and say that XBOX Failures are behind them but you cant cover up problems like they did with the 360 initially saying nothing was wrong with launch boxes who froze or didn't work saying it was user error and than 4 months later acknowledge they cut R&D and quality control so they could launch first with poor system planning and launch. You cant load a small box with faulty equipment and lack of cooling.

  • Elitekiller1172

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 1:26 pm GMT

    @Roidz87 yeah im just not one of those self centered, ignorent people that dont think.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 11:58 am GMT

    The 360 may not physically be 'True Quality', however the majority of its games and Online facility certainly are.

  • neogeo24

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 11:52 am GMT

    I am not going to make the same mistake i did with the first x-box ( went through 2 of them.) and the zune .Didn't Microsoft made the same claim about the 360 Elite . If it wasn't for GEARS OF WAR I wouldn't have a 360 ,The only person i going to truce with my 360 is PETER from game world .!@#$ you Microsoft.

  • Darth_Tyrranus

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 11:26 am GMT

    Do you know what the problem with this is? Microsoft still has yet to release the numbers and percentages of past and current Xbox 360 failure rates!! Game Informer's poll had 5000 participants in it, leaving very little room for error. And yet, Microsoft's refutation still does not give us any kind of clue as to what the current failure rates may be. All we get is a claim that the high failure rate is "well behind us." What kind of rebuttal is that?!

  • kramer_inc

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 11:18 am GMT

    "So I think we've made it clear we stand by the quality of our product". If it was truely quality people would not be on there" 3rd and hopefully final one."

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 10:02 am GMT

    On my third (and hopefully final) 360, not had any problems in 5 months of having it. Until another console comes along that provides me with the same or higher level of visceral online entertainment, im staying where i am. Dont need Blu ray as i already own a Panasonic one, and i would'nt touch a wireless connection with a barge pole. I just couldnt imagine playing a tactical FPS where nobody communicates.

    One thing is for sure, and that is that both MS & Sony have learned an awfull lot from this generation of consoles, which can only be a good thing for future generations of consoles.

  • I_am_a_PS3_FB

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 7:15 am GMT

    @FFcourtJester

    "The Blu-ray drove" ?? Whats that?

  • FFCourtJester

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 11:58 pm GMT

    @ x-2tha-z

    "I've owned three PS3's that have failed. The Blu-ray drove stopped reading discs in two of them and the other would regularly crash. My 360 has failed once. I know I'm in the minority but the 360 has been more reliable for me than the PS3. "


    Same here...had 2 PS3's stop reading Blu-Ray discs completely, past the warranty...only had one 360 RROD, and it was one of the first ones (I actually waited in line for one at a Toys R Us the day it released)

  • aaronobst

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 10:00 pm GMT

    @ Ardus

    It really took 16 - 18 Xboxes for you to get the message?

  • aaronobst

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 9:44 pm GMT

    @ taliff

    Are you kidding? it clearly shows it on your profile!

  • wondernova

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 8:51 pm GMT

    @dybbuk thanks for the link. found out ive got the falcon motherboard. like you ive played my 360 for like 6 hrs straight (Call of duty 4), laying on its side.

  • P0T

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 6:39 pm GMT

    hey ocdog, isn't fixing it for free TAKING responsibility?! Fanboys

  • solidine

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 3:12 pm GMT

    I've had numerous problems with the system. The first one I bought was gone in less than a month. The second lasted over a year, and the one I have now has been good for just under half a year.
    The system does, and undoubtably will continue to have issue, but at leas M$ has been good with their policies since they stopped denying the problems. Wether you like it or not, they handle the 360 well.

    ...Sony on the other hand still seems like they don't kow what they're doing. They have an amazing console, but hold back the support that could allow it to easily take the lead.
    I suppose it's of some solace to know you probably won't have to go through 3 PS3's within a period of a year though.
    Well you might, but the chances are.... SLIM.

    .....Sorry.

  • dybbuk

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 2:51 pm GMT

    Had my xbox for a couple of years now. Special Halo edition Zephyr version(extended GPU cooler). I've played it up to 8, 10 hours at a time. Had it on its side and laying flat. Used it to stream movies, play movies, and listen to music. Have not had an issue yet (knock on wood) still have a year left on warranty. I've always taken the time to ensure that my xbox was in a well ventilated area and I believe this has helped. For those interested in the different versions of the motherboards and which you may have, check out this address:

    http://beta.ivancover.com/wiki/index.php/Xbox_360_Revisions

  • kamizuka

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 1:57 pm GMT

    Less failure rate! great! awesome! still not getting an other one

  • ocdog45

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 1:25 pm GMT

    just because its a thing of the past, doesn't make it right. you F'd up and take no responsibility for it.

  • FarmFreshDX

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 8:46 am GMT

    That's funny, my cousin's 360 overheated about four days ago, and then the replacement overheated the next day...

  • robCROW75

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 8:17 am GMT

    to anyone who says ps3s don't overheat- they do. it just doesn't fry the system like xbox360. My ps3 will freeze if left on for too long but I just reach around back and hit the main power switch (if thats what its called) and reset the system. It is a better machine but they need MORE exclusives and BETTER online support- (in all fairness, 1st party games KZ2 andR2 haven't had lag probs ever - learn a frickn lesson Bungie) and that guy looks quite stoned

  • robCROW75

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 8:09 am GMT

    2 fails since '06.M$ replaced unit and have had no loud noises, no overheating and no game freezing (outside of network hiccups on LIVE). The console even got tossed and it still works beautifully. My daughter's halo3 disk wasn't so lucky (not big loss hate halo). Not fanboy- I have all 3 systems- still sucks to have to send a console in routinely for repairs. M$ has best games and best online service but at the price of having to deal w/ repairs and downtime... hmmm..

  • coolboyx

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 5:43 am GMT

    i dont have any problems with my 360 but some of the games dont work

  • Clive-Owen

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 5:21 am GMT

    i got my xbox 360 JASPER model, it doesnt overheat and works pretty healthy,

  • sub-raid

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 4:37 am GMT

    I don't care i will never forget when my x-box failed. I don't have any problem with my PS3.

  • I_am_a_PS3_FB

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 1:53 am GMT

    @Darkages04
    Are you sure your not drunk right now?

  • I_am_a_PS3_FB

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 1:48 am GMT

    That man has no shape in his head, Its a completely Rectangular. Just like the Xfail360, I think they reduced the RROD percentage from 99.999999999
    to 99.999999998 or something, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

  • acsam12304

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 11:34 pm GMT

    thing of the past and are working on making the system better? yeah after years they knew about the problem right?

  • taliff

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 11:19 pm GMT

    @george999819

    Also what was your point there? I told the guy that his PS3 is not the sole reason this happened.

    "on one occasion chipped of my entire electric in the house, thought i was gonna be callin fire man sam to out that stupid microwave." Are you trying to say I dont know what I am talking about because of a rating I never made?

  • taliff

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 11:11 pm GMT

    Wow you are reaching... For one the only version of Wolfenstein I rated was the PC version and you will note that I gave it a 8.5 Nice try though...

  • george999819

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 10:39 pm GMT

    Don't take taliff seriously. He is a fanboy. I just checked out his profile and he gave the PC and PS3 versions of Wolfenstein 10/10, and gave the 360 version a 1/10.

  • taliff

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 10:21 pm GMT

    @darkages04

    If the PS3 "chipped" off your entire electric in your house. Or whatever the hell your trying to say there (I'm guessing you mean it threw your circuit breaker) then you have way too much other crap plugged in. There is no way that a PS3 that runs off of 110V is going to throw your breaker if you have a stable current.

  • dark_aprentice

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 10:06 pm GMT

    I DONT UNDERSATND why cant they just make like the ps3 were it doesnt mess up ( red rings)

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