“We are investigating a very small breach in our distribution process around the early delivery of ‘Halo 3: ODST’ units,” a Microsoft spokesman told Kotaku. “We are also investigating Xbox LIVE accounts that show activity related to ‘Halo 3: ODST’ and will take action against those we believe have procured copies of the game illegitimately. We have nothing further to share at this time.”
Microsoft declined to comment on what “take action against” means exactly and whether they consider buying a copy from a story a form of obtaining the game illegitimately.
Fan site Halo.Bungie.Org reported yesterday that Microsoft France issues a statement saying that players would be banned from LIVE for playing ODST early.
Microsoft declined to respond specifically to questions about that.
ODST available really early… in France [Bungie.Org]
Simeon
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 8:22 AMIf a store breaks street date, why should you be punished, and not the store?
f4cti0n
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 9:01 AMI don’t think the people who buy the game early should be held accountable, it falls onto the retailers. They are, after all, the people who’ve done the wrong.
That said, how can the differentiate between pirates and those who just bought it early?
Bigus
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 9:13 AMMicrosoft probably dont really care. its all about getting media attention. They’ll make a $$$killing$$$ off the game, and it doesnt really matter that some people have the game already. What do they loose? Nothing.
NewGuy
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 9:31 AMI agree with you guys. People buying the game from retailers shouldn’t be punished. They especially need to be personally warned that they will get banned from XBL. Some of these peopel might be living under a rock and might not know it’s been released early.
James-Mac
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 10:52 AMIn addition to which… there’s got to be some precident it sets.
If Microsoft can punish people for getting the game earlier than everyone else… can we in Australia then use that to force Microsoft to shut down everyone in the rest of the world who got Batman Arkham Asylum weeks before Australia?
Tasos Chrysostomou
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 12:17 PMHahaha, that would be funny if it happened.