Some original Xbox One consoles cannot be updated, which disables most console functionality.

It all started with Reports on NeoGAF The extremely rare stock of original “new/old” Xbox One consoles — the so-called “VCR” or “set-top box” model — has been unable to work due to the lack of a system software update for the devices. Used consoles sold on eBay and factory-replaced consoles are also experiencing the same issue. Based on our own testing on Xbox One consoles that have been removed from storage, systems running older firmware revisions are experiencing errors when connecting to Xbox Live. We’ve notified Microsoft and are confident that the issue will be resolved, but the situation raises uncomfortable questions about the future prospects of consoles that rely on an internet connection to fully function.

Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about. As far as we know, the issue doesn’t affect the 2016 Xbox One S. We’re talking about the launch model, the set-top box version. And this doesn’t apply to all consoles — if every Xbox One “VCR” couldn’t connect to the internet, I’m sure we’d be hearing about it sooner. It seems that Xbox Ones with older firmware are the most at risk of not being able to update. Two of our consoles have 2017 consoles and one has a 2018 revision, and neither can update — not from the internet, and not from USB via the downloadable offline installer.

Therefore, we can assume that any affected console that cannot be updated and factory reset (perhaps by a user intending to resell the console) will not be able to work at all, effectively being “locked” until Microsoft finds a solution. If the affected drives are not rebooted, the dashboard works, games played from discs work, but anything that requires an online connection does not. Without access to the latest version of the system software, it is impossible to access Xbox Live or any of its features, and we can safely assume that digital purchases that require online sign-in will also not work unless the device is set up as the primary account holder or “home console.”

Now, there’s an argument to be made that if the issue wasn’t really noticed and its online footprint was limited to a two-page thread on NeoGAF (and, to be fair, a bunch of Reddit posts over the months), logic suggests that most older Xbox Ones still in general use are being properly updated. What we don’t know for sure is the exact criteria that separates a working Xbox One from one that doesn’t. In an attempt to find answers, we asked Digital Foundry Support Program users who own older Xbox consoles to try the upgrade. The sample size is small, but some updates were completed successfully. Evidence seems to suggest that a mandatory firmware file delivered in 2018 or later is required to successfully update a console.

However, from our perspective, in terms of preserving games and hardware, as well as intellectual property rights, the idea of ​​a console discontinuing itself is a warning sign. It’s a warning about the future viability of any console that requires an online connection, and a reminder that even if you buy a piece of hardware, you can only use it as long as the platform holder continues to support it. And if that’s happening now, what about 10 or 20 years down the road? I can pull the Atari VCS out of the attic in 40 years, and assuming there’s no hardware failure, I can pick it up and play. Or if a retro enthusiast wants to do the same, they can buy the original hardware and games and play. Nothing can take those games and experiences away from us.

The shift to digital has already seen entire libraries disappear (3DS, Wii, Wii U) and the impending demise of the Xbox 360 is yet another reminder of how impermanent gaming is. However, regardless of maintenance issues, the Xbox 360 should always work – something that can’t be guaranteed with its successors, which rely on the internet to be installed immediately. I spoke with Microsoft’s Jason Ronald last week and I believe that the affected older Xbox One consoles will work again once the root cause is resolved. It’s on the radar. What worries me is that we’ll reach a point in the future where the resources to fix issues like this won’t be available. It’s a reminder that any device that relies on an internet connection to function faces an uncertain future sooner or later.

This has been true of all Xbox consoles since the Xbox One and also poses issues for the PS5 Slim. The original PlayStation 5 models work fine in my opinion. Most games ship on discs and are mostly complete. If a system software update is required to play the game, no internet connection is required – the firmware can be installed from the disc. Game updates also don’t require a PSN login to download and install; the disc itself acts as the key to getting the update. However, the PS5 Slim presents a problem. Even on models that come with an optical drive, the disc-based functionality doesn’t work unless the online sign-up step is performed. If that’s not possible and PSN isn’t available, there’s no way to play games on the system.

For affected systems, what we’d like to see is some sort of protocol implemented to ensure that older consoles can always be played, whether that’s 11 years (as with the Xbox One) or 111 years after launch. Ideally, this means a rigorous approach to ensuring that the hardware continues to work throughout its lifecycle — but it also means a “final upgrade” strategy so that when a console is no longer serviced or its necessary infrastructure disappears, users can expect a robust solution to ensure that the device and its library can be played indefinitely. Of course, in an ideal world, there shouldn’t be a mandatory online requirement for a gaming console at all.

This turned out to be a “developing” story as we prepared the latest issue of DF Direct Weekly. At first, we discussed the reports, confident that the story was true. After recording, we learned more about how the hardware was affected by checking our consoles and discovering that online and offline updates were not working. We ended up recording the segment again on Saturday morning. But this is just one element of another busy episode: we discuss the recent leaks about RT and No Man’s Sky for the PS5 Pro, the fascinating story of a 700Hz CRT, and the release of Fallout London. I hope you enjoy the show and remember: all DF Supporters can help shape the show – and get early access every week.