Microsoft Culls 600K Modded Xbox Consoles From Xbox Live

As many as 600,000 Xbox 360 gamers have been disconnected from Microsoft's Xbox Live service, as a result of modding (or hacking) their game consoles to play pirated games. Microsoft confirmed the ban, but also noted that the ban affects only a small percentage of Xbox users.

In fact, 600,000 out of the estimated 20 million Xbox Live users would indeed be a small percentage: 3 percent.

Microsoft stated that:

"All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs violates the Xbox Live terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox Live.

"The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them."

To be honest, this is just the latest annual culling of modded Xbox consoles. Microsoft runs a sweep every November to do so.

Affected consoles display the message "Your console has been banned from Xbox" when attempting to login. The ban only affects online access; gamers can still play locally.