Microsoft cuts off thousands of Xbox players caught downloading pirated games



Microsoft is clamping down on piracy by banning up to one million customers from using its services if they are caught playing illegal games.



The technology giant said gamers who install hardware to play pirated games on the Xbox 360 console would be barred from using its Live service.



The online service allows multiple players to compete against each other over the internet and is central to the Xbox 360's popularity.

Popular: More than 34 million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold worldwide. Microsoft is now clamping down on piracy

However, any banned users would still be able to use their consoles to play games without connecting to the internet.

There are more than 20million Xbox Live customers worldwide and video game websites have suggested that up to a million people would be affected.



The Xbox 360 has Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology that can detect pirated software.

Modifying Xbox 360 consoles by physically attaching extra chips or other hardware to play pirated games is a booming industry.

Although Microsoft can do little to prevent users modifying their machines, it hopes to discourage the practice by blocking those who 'violate terms of use' from accessing its online services.

Microsoft said in a statement that only a 'small percentage' of its customers would be affected.

'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 company said.

'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.'

The Xbox was launched in 2002 as Microsoft's rival to the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo's GameCube, with the more powerful Xbox 360 going on sale three years later.

More than 34 million have been sold around the world.





