Tuesday September 16, 2025

Microsoft Responds to Xbox360 failure rate

Microsoft spokesman didn't dispute numbers or offer their own, proving report has validity

Posted on Aug 24, 2009 - 5:50pm EST

The Xbox 360 breaks five times as often as its closest failure-prone competitor, the PlayStation 3, a print edition-only Game Informer survey found. The poorly manufactured, red ring of death-prone console has a 54.2 percent failure rate, compared to 10.6 percent for the PS3 and the Wii's 6.8 percent. The report was disputed by many and hailed to be illigitimate and wrong in any and all ways possible.

Microsoft has now finally responded to the survey. Although Microsoft termed the Xbox 360 a "superior console," the company conceded that it was "constantly improving" the unit's design. In a statement to TG Daily, Microsoft said:

"Microsoft stands behind the Xbox 360 as a superior entertainment console with one of the best warranties in the industry. We are constantly improving the design, manufacture and performance of the console through extensive testing of potential sources of any problems. Xbox 360 is pleased to maintain the title of 'most played console' and the vast majority of Xbox 360 customers have enjoyed a terrific gaming and entertainment experience since their first day, and continue to, day in and day out."

Kotaku warns, when you are dealing with a spokesman, it's what's not said that's the story. In this case, Microsoft didn't even take a swipe at Game Informer's survey methodology, or the staggering 54.6 percent figure. in February 2008, they disputed the validity of a report saying the console had a 16 percent failure rate.

Then again, Microsoft probably knows that to continue the who-shot-john over its original motherboard and Falcon designs is to propagate the console's rep as a failboat. Plus challenging someone else's numbers either dredges up ones reported in the past, or creates demands for you to produce your own. Probably best to give it some "superior console" boilerplate and invite the issue to go away. Seeing as how Microsoft didn't bother to provide their own numbers or otherwise dispute the claim, it may be time for them to re-consider the 360 hardware for something with a bit longer life cycle.