Xbox 360 Owners Say They Were Banned For Downloading Free Games

[Lycanthrope]

So, for a while now, and very much on the down-low, some Xbox 360 owners have been downloading free games, taking advantage of a loophole in Microsoft's Xbox Live marketplace. I hope they enjoyed it, because a bunch of them are now saying they've had their consoles banned for their troubles.P

Here's the situation: for around five years now, select games have been appearing as free downloads in obscure markets like Oman and Bosnia. Savvy users in places like the USA were able to create fake accounts and download those games without paying a cent.P

Having got away with this for years, in the last week users have been reporting that Microsoft has finally dropped the hammer on those found to be taking advantage, issuing Xbox Live bans on the consoles (note: just the console, not the account) responsible.P

While refusing to address this situation in particular, a Microsoft spokesperson did issue Kotaku with the following statement when asked for confirmation on the bans:P

Microsoft’s commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 48 million Xbox Live members remains a top priority. We can confirm that attempting to exploit Xbox Live for financial gain – for instance, intentionally using false or deceptive information to create an account for the sole purpose of accessing content you would otherwise have to pay for – is fraudulent activity and a violation of the Xbox Live Terms of Use. However, we do not comment publicly on individual cases.

Sucks for those affected, but hey, they did sign a Terms of Service agreement to join Xbox Live, and they were engaged in "using false or deceptive information to create an account for the sole purpose of accessing content you would otherwise have to pay for", so...such is life.

Source: Kotaku

Kind of curious how this would affect folks living in one country and using the store (and free games and features) of another country's (such as living in ZA and using a US or UK account).

I figure trouble's brewing.

[Glordit]

I am pretty sure it's a violation of the EULA to use proxies or different regions (other than your own) to gain access and download a free game. You probably won't get banned immediately but they will find you in the end.

I think it's a dick move from MS, since they have had that "bug" in their system for years and still have not fixed it.

[The Joker]

I am pretty sure it's a violation of the EULA to use proxies or different regions (other than your own) to gain access and download a free game. You probably won't get banned immediately but they will find you in the end.

I think it's a dick move from MS, since they have had that "bug" in their system for years and still have not fixed it.

Neah dude, If you knowingly exploit a bug and in return you get "free" games you deserve to get your ass banned.
Oh and that is also in their EULA.

[Ike_009]

I am pretty sure it's a violation of the EULA to use proxies or different regions (other than your own) to gain access and download a free game. You probably won't get banned immediately but they will find you in the end.

I think it's a dick move from MS, since they have had that "bug" in their system for years and still have not fixed it.

The issue is not the bug, it's creating false accounts to exploit the bug.

[Cicero]

Yeah, serves them right. lol

Just because there is a bug, exploiting it is the problem.

[The Joker]

The issue is not the bug, it's creating false accounts to exploit the bug.

I can promise you MS don't give a crap about the false accounts, they are pissed cause people stole from them.

"You steal Bejewelled 2 from us we ban you good" lol

[matt]

Ya I don't think they mind people having accounts in the wrong region, they even let you migrate back and forth, just not too often. Besides, if you get a fake US or UK account, you can buy more stuff from them and they get more money. The problem is when you get something free that you should have paid for, then they feel that's stealing from them.

[Ike_009]

The issue is not the bug, it's creating false accounts to exploit the bug.

I can promise you MS don't give a crap about the false accounts, they are pissed cause people stole from them.

"You steal Bejewelled 2 from us we ban you good" lol

I'm gonna highlight that from my my first post. Note multiple accounts with the intent to defraud MS, pretty much what you just said, I didn't feel the need to expand it though.