Microsoft issues Xbox Live service alert

It appears as if Sony isn't the only one with a malfunctioning online store for its games console today. Microsoft has issued a service alert for Xbox 360 and PC gamers indicating that the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, and Indie Games channel are all suffering technical difficulties.

"We are aware of the problem and are working to resolve the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience," the company said in a message posted to its Xbox Support page. Other aspects of Xbox Live, including online matchmaking and login services, continue to function as intended.

GameSpot's own attempts to access content have yielded mixed results. An attempt to download content from the Xbox Live Marketplace was successful. However, the same cannot be said for Xbox.com, where attempts to access the Xbox Live Marketplace largely returned page-load errors.

Microsoft had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment on the matter as of press time. Likewise, the company has yet to indicate the cause of the service interruption, or when gamers can expect Xbox Live connectivity to return to normal working condition.

[UPDATE] Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has offered an update on the service interruption through his official Twitter feed, saying that the service hiccup is due to an "internal operational error."

Responding to GameSpot's request for comment, a Microsoft representative echoed Hryb's Twitter post. "The Xbox Live Game Marketplace and the Games for Windows Marketplace are currently experiencing issues due to an internal operational error. This issue is impacting users’ ability to browse and purchase content from the Marketplace. We apologize for any inconvenience, and are actively working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Please stay tuned to this page for further updates."