Microsoft fixes Xbox One consoles that were effectively bricked due to being unable to update

The launch model of the Xbox One (pre-S refresh or One X), paired with Kinect and Controller.
The launch model of the Xbox One (pre-S refresh or One X), paired with Kinect and Controller. (Image credit: Public Domain Photo by Evan-Amos on WikiMedia Commons; Microsoft for Xbox One)

Reports from across the Internet, including Reddit and NeoGAF (the earliest we could find was on July 21 and the latter forum), indicate that some launch model Xbox One consoles were effectively soft-bricked from playing games (online or all depending on severity) or even updating the console until Microsoft fixed the issue with backend updates, per a Tweet from Xbox Gaming Devices & Ecosystem VP Jason Ronald.

This issue happened because some of these launch model consoles, including many that found their way onto the secondhand market, hadn't received software updates since November 2018 or earlier. This also applied to original models that had simply been factory reset before reselling, as is good practice. Mind, the original Xbox One launch was back in 2013, and the succeeding Xbox One S refresh launched in 2016, a year before the mid-gen upgrade of the Xbox One X launched in late 2017. So, it's not wholly surprising that some Xbox One consoles went completely untouched in that timespan, though factory resets also trigger the issue and set a much wider umbrella than just the last update time.

Fortunately for these troubled Xbox One console owners, Microsoft addressed the issue pretty much the instant a large platform— Digital Foundry in its DF Direct series— covered it. However, it's unfortunate that something as simple as factory resetting an original Xbox One model could render it unusable once resold for any span of time. It goes to show the inherent downsides of a console market that's veering increasingly towards always-online requirements, as opposed to owning the console simply allowing you to play your games no matter what, as used to be standard.

This specific issue with this specific launch model even recalls the initial Xbox One announcement, where a mandatory always-online model was planned and received massive backlash from fans across the console gaming space until Microsoft backtracked on the decision. Unfortunately, the Xbox One still launched with a mandatory Kinect peripheral, which not many games utilized, and this raised the price by a solid $100 over the competing PlayStation 4— and the rest is history, at least as far as that generation of console gaming goes.

Christopher Harper
Contributing Writer

Christopher Harper has been a successful freelance tech writer specializing in PC hardware and gaming since 2015, and ghostwrote for various B2B clients in High School before that. Outside of work, Christopher is best known to friends and rivals as an active competitive player in various eSports (particularly fighting games and arena shooters) and a purveyor of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Killer Mike to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack.

  • DarkSim420
    "Fixes" how? My xbox has been like this for over a year & the story says Microsoft fixed the issue but has no other details!
    Reply
  • thestryker
    The problem being referred to here was a backend problem on Microsoft's side which has been resolved so affected consoles can update normally again.
    Reply
  • Jephy
    It isnt just Xbox Ones. I bought a brand new Series X last week, it didn't last 24hours. Completed a system update hen it randomly shut off completely and now turns then back off with display. No troubleshoot menu, usb recovery offline update doesn't work... what a joke... my Lainch PS5 is still going strong.
    Reply
  • DS426
    Jephy said:
    It isnt just Xbox Ones. I bought a brand new Series X last week, it didn't last 24hours. Completed a system update hen it randomly shut off completely and now turns then back off with display. No troubleshoot menu, usb recovery offline update doesn't work... what a joke... my Lainch PS5 is still going strong.
    And? It's still under warranty. Those with older Xbox's aren't under warranty, so that's where the real frustration and complaint base comes in.

    Yeah, it's an inconvenience, but MS will probably have the issue figured out by the time your new one comes in. Or refund before your 30 days is up?
    Reply