Major Nelson Responds To Yesterdays Xbox One Ban

Yesterday was quite the roller-coaster of Xbox One information and yet another PR right hook from Sony that no doubt caught Microsoft at a bad time.

First we brought you news that one user had gotten his Xbox One dispatched to him early by Target. He then uploaded pictures, most likely happy as can be that something so awesome had happened, uploaded information about game install size and so-forth.

Then we found out what the Xbox One console banning screen looks like, turns out the same user didn’t read the Terms of Service (most people don’t). Using your Xbox One prior to release day is effectively forbidden and Microsoft were in this unfortunate case within their rights to ban the console.

The with a simple tweet Sony CEO Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that PlayStation 4 gamers can not only play their PS4 prior to release day, they can even go online with it and Sony will not mind.

In short, Microsoft didn’t do anything they didn’t warn users about in the terms of service, the console was banned as part of a damage control system given that he was uploading information about titles and a system that hadn’t been patched.

Yet people are quick to burn Microsoft in these situations and many saw the ban as a little too heavy handed since the user in question had no malicious intent and most likely thought Christmas had come early. Larry Hryb who you may know better as Microsoft’s Major Nelson asked the user to direct message him to get it all sorted out. Larry later went onto NeoGAF t say that the console will no longer be perma-banned.

In short, if you own an Xbox One prior to the official release day, do not jump the starting gun. This kid got lucky, but Microsoft will likely not be so forgiving again.

Thank you GearNuke for providing us with this information.