As Microsoft promised earlier in the year, today the plug will be pulled on the world’s first truly successful online gaming service for consoles, which first set up shop on the original Xbox all the way back in 2002.
While Xbox Live itself will obviously live on for the Xbox 360, the games that got the service its start – those for the original Xbox – will tomorrow no longer be supported, nor will online play via the original Xbox console.
The move paves the way for a brighter future for the Xbox 360, one where friends lists aren’t capped at 100 people, but the celebrations for the future will be marred by tears for the dearly departed, as today we bid farewell to clasic multiplayer titles like Battlefront 2, Crimson Skies and of course the original online juggernaut, Halo 2 (though with its singleplayer campaign it’s at least still useful).
Will any of you be marking the occasion with one last game, for old time’s sake? I might dust off Halo and Battlefront, send them off in style.
Alex Cullinan
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 4:42 PMX-Link Kai sits in the shadows, rubbing its hands together and muttering “just as planned.”
brent3000
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 4:55 PMShame that any console updates etc all go with it though :( all them maps we spent money on will no longer be accessable or worth anything…
At least MS should release ISO’s of all of the content on the Xbox including all updates… come on ms… play nice
MrTaco
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 4:58 PMThis is why I’ve never liked the idea of games that rely on external factors, like DLC or updates or online-only multiplayer. Someday it’s just not going to be available any more and all you’re left with is a coaster.
Lucas Brown
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 5:29 PMHow do you propose to play games that act on external factors without having external factors? I’m not sure if you were making a legitimate complaint, but it seems a bit silly.
I don’t want to have to peddle “nothing lasts forever”, but yeah…
poohbum
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 10:09 PMNot sure about Xbox, but I know Dreamcast online still existed for quite a while after the servers were shut off via players. Guessing Microsoft wouldn’t be able to handle that considering the Xbox and the 360 were purposely built so they could control it.
Brendan
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 5:35 PMR.I.P.
But I always had a PS2.
James Mac
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 5:38 PMBy the way… best picture ever.
Michael Barnes
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 5:43 PMWhy can’t we play original Xbox games on Live via Xbox 360 like Halo 2? That makes me worry about the next generation. Will they cut the plug on all the great online Xbox 360 games?
brent3000
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:13 AMThe original games dont play on the same LIVE systems which the 360 runs on.
Think of it as Live 1.0 for Xbox 1
and Live 2.0 for 360
To make them work on the new systems the games internal code would have to be re-written. For the small number of people playing on Live 1.0 its not very cost effective.
To expand on Live they have to cut off the system its backwards compatable with.
Jay
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 7:32 PMHalo 2 MADE online gaming
Pear
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 9:16 PMMaybe you meant console online gaming because otherwise you are wrong. So ridiculously wrong you’d win the most ridiculous post of the day award.
Neil Williams
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 9:28 PMThe PC would like to have a word with you…
Jay
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 1:08 PMPC ?
Not following.
What i meant to say was… Halo 2 MADE online gaming! It’s the Godfather of online gaming!
Thats the part i left out.
Wut
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 3:13 PMMeanwhile, Quake sits in the corner waiting for quad damage to respawn.
Zan
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 8:33 PMHalo 2 is probably more the conniving but trendy middle child of online gaming, who cashed in on the God fathers inheritance.
Nick
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 11:03 PMGood riddance.
Michael Woodpeckers
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 11:39 PMYou mean Halo 2 MADE Xbox LIVE.
All good things come to an end I guess. I’ll just hop on XBC or Xlink whenever i want to hit up some online H2 =D
FunkyJ
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:00 PMSeems my 360 committed hari-kari in honour of this moment…
stupid RROD!