Microsoft Makes a Peace Offering to Live 1.0 Users

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More than a few gamers called foul when Microsoft announced the impending shutdown of Xbox Live 1.0 last month. Aiming to provide a bit of consolation, Microsoft has quietly given word that gamers who have remained on the original Xbox and Halo 2 players will receive a few benefits in the coming months. Via Microsoft:


What is Xbox LIVE doing for me?

• To thank you for being a loyal Xbox LIVE customer, we are giving you a free, three-month LIVE Gold membership and 400 Microsoft Points for you to use as you choose on Xbox LIVE.

• In addition, because you've been so loyal to Halo, we are inviting you to participate in the exclusive Halo: Reach Beta.


How do I get these offers?

• You will receive a token for 400 MS points. Check your Xbox LIVE account messages on the console. These points can be used for 365 days after you activate your token.

• We are extending your Gold membership by three months automatically. The extension will be directly reflected in your LIVE account.

• Finally, as the beta gets closer, you will receive an e-mail containing the code granting you access to the exclusive Halo: Reach Beta.




While it isn't quite a free Xbox 360, it's certainly more than Microsoft was obligated to provide. While there's no official word on who qualifies or when players can expect to receive the aforementioned goodies, but we can confirm that some users have already received tokens for points and Live time.

Pretty decent in my book.

A nice gesture, should soften the blow for those guys

It is a nice gesture indeed by Microsoft and definitely one they didn't have to make, but seriously folks nothing lasts forever and times have moved on... if keeping compatibility and allowing online play for a title that is coming up for 6 years old stops me from having nicer, bigger and shinier things for my newer stuff I say cut them strings and let them weep!