DF Weekly: Some original Xbox One units fail to update, disabling most of the console’s functions

It all started with reports on NeoGAF that extremely rare stocks of “new/old” Xbox One consoles – the so-called “VCR” or “set-top box” models – were failing to function due to the lack of a system software update for the hardware. Used consoles sold on eBay and factory-reset consoles are also experiencing the same issue. Based on our own testing of Xbox One consoles brought out of storage, systems running on older firmware versions are throwing errors when connected to Xbox Live. We’ve informed Microsoft that we’re confident the issue will be resolved, but the situation raises uncomfortable questions about the future prospects of console hardware that relies on an internet connection to function fully.

Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about. As far as we know, the issue doesn’t affect the 2016 hardware revision of the Xbox One S. We’re talking about the launch model, the Set-Top Box Edition. And this doesn’t apply to every console – if every Xbox One “VCR” couldn’t connect to the internet, I’m sure we would have heard about it sooner. It seems to be Xbox One hardware running older firmware that’s most at risk of not being able to update. Two of our consoles are running 2017 dashboards, the other is running a 2018 revision. Neither of them can update – neither from the internet, nor from USB via the downloadable offline installer.

By extension, we can assume that any affected console that cannot be updated and is subsequently factory reset (perhaps by a user looking to resell the console) cannot function at all, effectively stranding the hardware until Microsoft can find a solution. If affected units are not Reset, the dashboard works, games run from discs work, but anything that requires an online connection will not work. Without access to the latest revision of the system software, it is impossible to access Xbox Live or any of its features, and we can safely assume that digital purchases requiring online registration will also not work unless the machine is set up as the primary account holder or “home console”.

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There’s an argument that if the issue hasn’t really been noticed, and its online footprint is limited to a two-page NeoGAF thread (and, in fairness, a few Reddit posts over the months), logic suggests that the majority of older Xbox Ones still in use update properly. What we don’t know for sure is the precise criteria that separate a working Xbox One from one that doesn’t. In an effort to find answers, we asked our Digital Foundry Support Program users who owned older Xbox consoles to attempt an update. The sample size is small, but some updates have been successful. The evidence seems to suggest that a mandatory file in firmware shipped in 2018 or later is required to successfully update the console.

However, from our perspective, in terms of preserving games and hardware, and property rights, the idea that a working console might stop working is a wake-up call. It’s a warning about the future operability of any console that requires an internet connection, and a reminder that even if you’ve bought a piece of hardware, you can only use it as long as the platform holder continues to support it properly. And if that’s happening now, what about in 10 or 20 years? I can pull an Atari VCS out of the attic after 40 years and, assuming there’s no hardware fault, I can pick it up and play. Or if a retro enthusiast wants to do the same, they can buy original hardware and games and get stuck in. Nothing can take those games and experiences away from us.

The transition to digital has already seen entire libraries disappear (3DS, Wii, Wii U) and the upcoming demise of the Xbox 360 market is another reminder of the ephemeral nature of gaming. However, maintenance issues aside, the Xbox 360 itself should still work, which is not guaranteed with its successors that rely on the internet to install out of the box. I spoke with Jason Ronald at Microsoft last week and I believe that the older Xbox One consoles affected will work again as soon as the root cause is resolved. It’s on the radar. I fear that we’ll reach a point in the future where the resources will no longer be available to fix issues like this. It’s a reminder that any hardware that relies on an online connection to function is facing an uncertain future, sooner or later.

This applies to all Xbox consoles since the Xbox One, and is also problematic for the PS5 Slim. The original PlayStation 5 models work pretty well, I think. Most games come on disc, and are mostly complete. If a system software upgrade is needed to run the game, no internet connection is required – the firmware can be installed from the disc. Game updates also don’t require a PSN connection to download and install, the disc itself acts as a key to retrieve the update. The PS5 Slim, however, is problematic. Even on models that come with an optical drive, the disc-based functionality doesn’t work unless an online registration step takes place. If that’s not possible and PSN isn’t available, there’s no way to play games on the system.

And for those systems which are affected, what we would like to see is some sort of protocol put in place to ensure that legacy consoles are always playable, whether that’s 11 years (as is the case with the Xbox One) or 111 years after its launch. Ideally, this means a rigorous approach to ensuring that hardware continues to work throughout its lifecycle – but it also means a “final upgrade” strategy so that when a console is no longer supported or the required infrastructure fails, users can expect a robust solution to ensure that the machine and its library can continue to function indefinitely. Of course, in an ideal world, a mandatory online requirement for a games console shouldn’t exist at all.

This story turned out to be something of a “developing” story as we prepared the latest edition of DF Direct Weekly. At first, we discussed the reports, convinced that the story was true. After recording, we learned more about how the hardware was affected by checking our own consoles, and then discovered that both online And Offline updates weren’t working. We ended up re-recording the segment on Saturday morning. But it’s just one part of another jam-packed episode: we discuss the recent RT and No Man’s Sky leaks for PS5 Pro, the remarkable story of a 700Hz CRT, and the launch of Fallout London. I hope you enjoy the show, and remember that every member of the DF Backer Program can help shape the show – and get early access every week.