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Xbox Live dropping original Xbox support April 15

Cessation of online play will affect all XBL-enabled games for Microsoft's original console, including Xbox Originals and Xbox 360-optimized games like Halo 2; single-player games will function normally.

Halo 2 players better get their last frags in. At midnight, Microsoft announced that it is ceasing support for all original Xbox games, including digital copies of Xbox Originals that were bought for the Xbox 360. Disc-based Xbox games optimized for the Xbox 360, such as Halo 2, will lose their online modes on that date. Any offline single-player modes will still function normally, and single-player games with no online component will be unaffected.

"By high decree, I order all Xbox Live Halo 2 games to cease!"

"On April 15, we will discontinue the Xbox Live service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox v1 games playable on Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals," Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten said in a statement. "I want to start by saying this isn’t a decision we made lightly, but after careful consideration, it is clear this will provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox Live community." Currently, Xbox Live has over 23 million users.

Without going into too much detail, Whitten said the reason behind the cessation of original Xbox support was that Microsoft "need[s] to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games." Whitten said that Microsoft would be contacting players "directly impacted" by the loss of service via e-mail to discusses "more details and opportunities," but he did not go into specifics. "We view you as a partner in this process," he concluded.

The original Xbox Live Menu.

The original Xbox Live Menu.

Xbox Live began in 2002 on the original Xbox and was the most robust online network of the last generation of consoles. NFL Fever was the first game on the service, and online play boosted the popularity of such games as MechAssault and Project Gotham Racing 2. However, it was Halo 2 that became the most popular original Xbox title on Xbox Live. The game is still played on it and has been for over five years since its November 2004 release. The original Xbox ceased production in 2006.

703 Comments

  • Dan21278

    Posted May 10, 2010 3:58 pm GMT

    If the last Xbox live didn't last what makes us think the current Xbox live will?

  • WraithStalker

    Posted Apr 3, 2010 3:28 am GMT

    I am deeply saddened by this. Aside from Halo 2, we are losing so many classics online. Crimson Skies, MechAssault, Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, and more (many of which are still for sale on the marketplace). So many fond memories. So many great games - gone. Even if only a handful of gamers still play these games online, surely there must be some sort of workaround. Perhaps this issue is made worse by my 360's 6th RRoD. Right now, aside from my PC, my Xbox 1 is my only online gaming alternative. It used to be that when my 360 died, I could always count on the old reliable to get me by.

  • roan23

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 10:34 pm GMT

    Alright, I was wondering if all the BC games will still playable on the 360?
    If so, for all those Halo 2 fanboy, please joint the XBC. So we can still play our beloved Halo 2 game.

  • RPGOmen

    Posted Feb 17, 2010 12:43 am GMT

    I sense a disturbance in the force...

    As if a million halo fans suddenly cried out on April 15th, and then suddenly be silenced.

  • MTMind2

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 5:47 am GMT

    @skullomania2 who says "If microsoft goes through with this and doesn't convert any games over? A petition and possible lawsuit must be brought against them."

    *rolleyes*

  • skullomania2

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 3:37 pm GMT

    I find this very disgusting! Halo 2 was the reason I bought and xbox in the first place. Microsoft knows that there is still much love for Halo 2 it's apart of a trilogy. You just can't shut it down without backlash. And on top of this they have the nerve to sell old games on demand! Well they are worthless without the multiplayer!! They had better convert it because I have been paying for xbox live for since the beginning and this is the first time I have been unhappy with the service. If microsoft goes through with this and doesn't convert any games over? A petition and possible lawsuit must be brought against them.

  • MTMind2

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 2:24 am GMT

    @GOR_TAK who wrote "With such brainwashed and loyal customers like you..."

    It's very easy to resort to insults GOR_TAK, and it's especially easy to label people as fanboys, blind or brainwashed just because they don't agree with you. If you feel annoyed and/or upset because I don't sympathise with you over this matter, then I'm sorry but that's just the way it is.

    I have both consoles, 360 and PS3, just as I had an XBox and a PS2 (both given away) last gen. I absolutely loved playing Project Gotham Racing 2 online, which still remains my favourite console online gaming experience (on the PC, I still play Quake 3 online!), but times have moved on.

    And you said "You're right, people who just bought these games (from the Xbox Live originals store) deserve not getting their money's worth"

    No, these are not online only games we're talking about, so please don't pretend that the ONLY value those XBox games had was online. There are countless old PS2 games which we cannot play online because the dedicated servers were taken down years ago. Again, time moves on.

    And said "You PS3 vs 360 example is an apples an oranges comparison"

    Partially, no example will be exactly the same, but my point is that gamers will always come up with reasons why it's unfair, wrong, lazy etc, without appreciating the situation.

    Hence, whilst you may feel hard done by over MS's decision here, I simply don't agree with you.

    We'll just have to agree to disagree. Agreed? :-)

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Feb 11, 2010 11:38 pm GMT

    @MTMind2

    With such brainwashed and loyal customers like you it's easy to see why MS keeps getting away with ripping people off and screwing them over.

    You're right, people who just bought these games (from the Xbox Live originals store) deserve not getting their money's worth. You PS3 vs 360 example is an apples an oranges comparison. It would be one thing is MS said all further 360s from here on out won't support original xbox on line game support but to screw people out of what they already have is quite another thing.

  • MTMind2

    Posted Feb 11, 2010 11:21 pm GMT

    @GOR_TAK who wrote "but to screw over all of us still playing our original games AND people who bought "xbox originals" just prior to this announcement, that's just wrong"

    Sorry, but you're not being screwed, the XBox is over 8 years old, so that's life. I'm with MS on this, just as I was with Sony over BC. This is a new generation of consoles, one which started over 4 years ago! You should be grateful you were able to play your old XBox games for as long as you had online, instead of whinging and whining over the lose. And no, I'm not saying "get with the times", because that means buying a new console, which is not easy for everyone, but what I am saying is that when you're *behind* the times, you should expect you're not going to get the support you once enjoyed, and therefore bit by bit, XBox support will die as 360 support grows.

    The arguement that it should be easy for MS to keep backward compatibility with the old XBox and that they're being lazy, was the same arguement used by gamers complaining about the removal of BC in the PS3 saying things like "But Sony could *easily* do BC in software if they wanted too, they're just being lazy". Yeah sure, when you don't know or accept the facts, just use the good old 'lazy' arguement. ;-)

    I accept it's disappointing for gamers like yourself, but I don't accept that the lost of XBL support for the old XBox is wrong, unjust or unfair. Sad? Yes, but it was the right thing for MS to do.

  • daddo-splat

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 8:28 pm GMT

    can still play halo2 on pc online ?????

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 2:05 pm GMT

    It's one thing if MS said all 360 versions from here on out will not support original xbox live backwards compatibility but to screw over all of us still playing our original games AND people who bought "xbox originals" just prior to this announcement, that's just wrong.

    And for all of you who think "get with the times, move on to the new versions of these franchises (like Halo)"...

    The bottom line is there are several games that have no "updated" equivalent or sequel (Mech Assault 1 and 2, Unreal Championship 2, Crimson Skies, Street Fighter Alpha etc etc etc). I didn't buy an xbox to only play the popular flavor-of-the-month games the mainstream has dubbed xbox live worthy. I bought it to play all the games MS promised it would support.

  • lordinuyasha21

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:55 pm GMT

    I love Halo 3 but it's just fun to go back and play Halo 2 online sometime's

  • lordinuyasha21

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:53 pm GMT

    NOOO! my poor halo 2

  • MTMind2

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:45 pm GMT

    @GOR_TAK

    It's got nothing to do with money. There reaches a point when to move forward you have to drop whatever is holding you back.

    I'm not saying this as blind support for MS, I'm simply stating the reality of the situation. The PS3 is a perfect example of this. Sony had to make the console cheaper to make a greater impact in the games market (i.e. greater sales) as well as to reduce the manufacturing cost of the console. One way they did this was to scale back hardware/software support for PS2 backward compatibility, eventually getting rid of it completely.

    PS2 backward compatibilty was holding back the development of new PS3 models, and so it made sense for Sony to eventually drop BC. If full PS2 BC was kept, there probably would have been no PS3 slim, or if there was, it would have been more expensive than it currently is, and a more expensive PS3 means fewer consoles in the market.

    Likewise, backward compatibility with old XBox games is now holding back the development of XBL, and therefore it makes sense for MS to drop BC.

    Hence this is not specifically about MS or Sony, for any company, dropping support for earlier products/services is not something they take lightly (unless the product/service was a failure), and therefore when they do so, it's usually for good reasons, and imo, both MS and Sony have provided good reasons to justify their actions.

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:04 pm GMT

    MS has posted over $100 million in just XBL sales alone seems like they could set aside some of that money to pay for the drop in the bucket it would take to keep original xbox on live support running.

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:02 pm GMT

    @MTMind2

    LOL
    You have to ween yourself off of all that MS kool aid you've been drinking..

  • MTMind2

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 1:52 pm GMT

    @GOR_TAK who wrote "It's about MS being too lazy to hobble together new emulation coding to gel with 360's "new coming features" and keep old game play from sucking up minor network resources"

    Oh, if only things were so simple. ;-)

    There reaches a point with backward compatibility where it can interfere with future development of a product or service, and XBL has sadly reached that point. Keeping backward compatibility with the XBox is now slowing down or even preventing development of the service. The priority HAS to be for the MAJORITY of 360 gamers, and therefore after over 4 years since the launch of the 360, and over 8 years since the launch of the XBox, the time has come to move on.

    And you said "Those who can't understand why we are "crying" (over losing our ability to play our favorite old games) are going to be the 1st to cry foul when MS abandons support for their favorite 360 games, DLC, and arcade games"

    Not if it happens 4 years or more AFTER the launch of the XBox 720 (or whatever it's called), when most gamers have moved over to the new generation of consoles. Again, if the 360 starts to hold back progress with only a small minority playing a small number of 360 games online, then it would be time to drop support in favour of the new console. It's called progress. :-|

  • Clutch22

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 12:07 pm GMT

    @ Gor Tak, you QQ way to much, get over it, they aren't going to change what they have decided!

  • GRIMxULQUIORRA

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 11:42 am GMT

    well a new look on things xboxlive from here on out huh..

  • Shooterdown

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 11:13 am GMT

    Main issue I have is obviously Halo 2. Only one thing to do. Bungie needs to redo all the maps to work with Halo 3. :-)

  • Sumbelina

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:34 am GMT

    Well, something amazing better come out of this. Maybe a larger friends list? That is one of the things they said they couldn't change because of the Live infrastructure that started in the original Xbox. I think. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE!

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 10:32 am GMT

    People keep talking about MS having to abandon "dedicated servers" for old games because of the "expense". This simply is not the case. Few original xbox games EVER had dedicated servers and most of the ones still being played don't have them either. So it's not an issue of MS losing money on keep legacy servers running.

    It's about MS being too lazy to hobble together new emulation coding to gel with 360's "new coming features" and keep old game play from sucking up minor network resources. It's complete BS. MS can certainly afford the resources to keep backward online compatibility alive but like everything else the 360, they are cutting corners and taking shortcuts at the consumers expense.

  • get_bangd

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 7:06 am GMT

    @pixeladdict

    ummm yes they did but at least us ps3 user dont have to pay to play online what's up with that? even though x-box live started on the reg. x-box they're just gonna cut it off on you guys now that sucks lol

  • ZippyDSMLee

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:09 pm GMT

    Seems like they could charge 15$ a month and then smoothly translate servers together and then have the servers lean to the 360 games over the Xbox games....... it seems silly to me that they just have to stop it altogether....ah planed obsolescence....this is why I don't buy cars....or macs...

  • Ravenlore_basic

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:05 pm GMT

    @EXxile What I can say is that there are people who do hold onto and play older games. Xbox more than PS2 and way more than Game Cube, was an Online console. The games are P2P and many thought that they would be playable for several Generations. THEY PAY $5.00 a month also and some people thought that the monthly FEE was for something!! NOT JUST FOR MS PROFITS! So some peole feel cheeted, as they have recently bought some Xbox games only to be told that the online part will no longer work!! . . .

    Compare that to some PS2 games. Again PS2 games were not even in the same quality online as Live but PS2 online was free and it still works for some games today. Thus, some people see games on PS3 through PSN lasting longer than 360 Live games.

  • ShroudedEagle

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 7:43 pm GMT

    Hmm. Will we get benefits from this? I want Clan Support! Anyway, good bye Halo 2 online, you will be missed.

  • LordelX

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 6:38 pm GMT

    Hmmmm...all of a sudden the fact that the Gamecube never had online play becomes irrelavent.

  • solidine

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 5:58 pm GMT

    The only multiplayer I still have that I would play is Conker L&R. I haven't played that since it wad added to the BC list though.
    As long as the single player parts work I don't really care, though it's still annoying there aren't more B/C xbox games. Some are still worth playing.

  • UnknownForm

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 5:09 pm GMT

    And to think how the original Xbox has evole to what is now the Xbox 360......amazing....

  • Flint247

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 5:08 pm GMT

    I bet none of you were even thinking about Xbox until this news came up! lol

  • MattVans

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 4:43 pm GMT

    I've still got Halo2 but never play it. I think i'll have to put it on the night before they "turn the lights off". It'll be nice to give it a final send off.

    I know some people think this is a selfish act on Microsofts behalf but I think that the only way to move forward is to inevitably close the door on the past. After all, they have kept the Halo 2 online community going over 5 years now. That's good going.

  • MudkipMaster30

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 4:22 pm GMT

    Well, let's all face it, it was inevitable. After all, if a lot of Xbox 360 online communities are already dead, and I understand how Microsoft would want to shut down the many Xbox original severs that haven't had a game played in them for years, even though games like Halo 2 will have to pay the price. Still, I consider original Xbox owners lucky for have having their servers up for as long as they were, considering Sony shut down their PS2's servers about a year and a half ago.

  • Vorodor21

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 3:30 pm GMT

    Clearly some over sensitive baby thought my post was meant to annoy...that one wasn't. People still complain about stupid crap when a week from when this goes down people probably won't even remember it. You still need to get over yourselves.

  • GOR_TAK

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 3:22 pm GMT

    Those who can't understand why we are "crying" (over losing our ability to play our favorite old games) are going to be the 1st to cry foul when MS abandons support for their favorite 360 games, DLC, and arcade games

  • Clutch22

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 2:52 pm GMT

    why are people complaining about this, eventually you and the company has to move on, thats like you getting pissed off cuz they stop making original nintendo games, get your head out of your a$$, its time to make new and better things and stop waisting time on old stuff that isn't worth the money to keep running!

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 2:51 pm GMT

    only way to get people to spend money on stuff from this gen is to discontinue last gen stuff and i think a lot of companies will benefit from this.

    @ PixelAddict
    yes but as far as i know, when ps2 launched no-one had good enough connections and nor did the ps2 have the power to run games online. nor was it the online era and nor was there as much online socialisation as there is today.
    ps2 gaming was about singleplayer, local MP and cheat codes.
    plus the online was an addon years after ps2 released and it was rushed.
    XBL was clearly better at that stage but the growth of PSN if far greater than XBL.

  • EXxile

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 2:25 pm GMT

    To the genious who wrote: "I think I'm gonna trade in my 360 for a ps3 now."

    Really dude? Your telling me you bought an Xbox 360 to play your old Xbox games online? Stupid.

  • monson21502

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 2:25 pm GMT

    now they need to drop prices on the current xboxlive. because 360 isnt going against the ps2 online. psn is very playable and its free. ms better be smart and think about how cheap both systems are now and free online play is a big factor when someone is in the store choosing a new system...

  • subyman

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:48 pm GMT

    Sounds good. Less overhead for them on a dead console.

  • urine72

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:42 pm GMT

    Hate to say it but,.......

    This is still better news then what avid sony and PSN fans have to face on a daily basis. For those of you who dont know, XBL NEVER drops servers for a specific title due to a lack of players. Sadly the same cant be said for players on PSN, multiple games have ceased to exist online due to sony dropping servers for them.

    I said it before and I will say it again, You get what you pay for.

  • detroithardcore

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:35 pm GMT

    I personally dont play on X-live anymore but, I dont think its fair to the less fortunate who cant afford a 360 and there are alot of them out there. I think once the 360s life had finished and they released another system, that they could have killed what made their original followers believe.



    Granted you agree to the fine print when you sign up for Live, but still its not even a total generation old...ah Microsoft the great money pig. Good systems...poor ethics

  • robCROW75

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:32 pm GMT

    heh heh heh... I chuckle a little when I think about this. Halo2? LMAO! people still playing this?

  • PixelAddict

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:15 pm GMT

    @coruscant

    Yeah, that's right. I remember online not being very intuitive or consistent, so I didn't give it much effort. If there was a game on both consoles and had an online function, I always got the game on the xbox.

    The differences that existed last generation are pretty much gone, leaving the systems pretty much equal in my mind

    Which means I gotta get me a PS3. I have plenty of fun on Live, but I miss the Ratchet & Clank series and need to play through the Uncharteds. If Sucker Punch announces a new Sly and I don't have a PS3, I'll be ashamed.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 12:57 pm GMT

    The only good thing about the original xbox was that you could mod it.

  • Clutch22

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 12:42 pm GMT

    all good things must come to an end

  • georgeorjose

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 11:12 am GMT

    welcome to the next gen of comsoles, original xbox users

  • ScottASmith230

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:49 am GMT

    I think that its bad that Microsoft has dropped support for games that they r still selling online via download

  • coruscant

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:35 am GMT

    @PixelAddict
    I think you'll find that the PS2 didn't even have PSN, each game's online modes were handled by their publisher.

  • loopy_101

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 10:31 am GMT

    I think this is actually lazy on Microsoft's part. As the developers of the world's most popular OS, they can do better.

  • tsiper

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 9:46 am GMT

    its about time although I will miss crimson skies multiplayer! all the whining is hillarious you weiney's that say microsoft has wronged you GET A LIFE!!!! It will be nice to be able to expand our friends list finally.

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