soniqstylz Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Microsoft is investigating a serious system design flaw in its Xbox Live accounts system which is leaving some active Xbox 360 gamers with no choice but to start afresh with new Gamertags, deleting any achievements they may have accumulated in the past four years. The problem stems from the Windows Live ID email address that's required to set up a Gold membership, and specifically those which are automatically set to expire after a period of inactivity, such as Hotmail. If a user allows their Windows Live ID email to expire - perhaps because they use an alternative such as Gmail on a day-to-day basis - the email account is deleted, along with any Gamertag that may be associated with it, even if the user has set up additional non-Hotmail addresses in the meantime. A Microsoft customer services representative confirmed the problem, apologising and adding: "The only alternative is to set up a new Gamertag with your preferred email address." She added that there was no way around the problem, and that any achievement points gained were non-transferable, and would therefore be lost - despite any user affected still having an accurate, up-to-date profile existing on their own Xbox 360 hard drive. GamesIndustry.biz has confirmed the problem exists with a relatively small percentage of users, and while the issue does not prevent gamers from playing offline with a Silver membership, it will prevent them from upgrading at any time to Gold status, effectively blocking any ongoing online multiplayer activity - one of the facets which made the service so popular in the first place. Downloads from the Live Marketplace appear unaffected by the issue, which can be diagnosed via a '8015d080' error code when any new subscription attempt is made. UPDATE: Microsoft issued this statement in response to a request for comment on the problem: "We are investigating this issue and don't have any further comment to make right now. Any consumer with any issues regarding their Xbox 360 or Xbox Live account should visit xbox.com/support or call their country's customer support number." http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/xbox...-expiry-blunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
»X« Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I've lost count how many times I've tried to change my xbox account from live to gmail. It refuses me. I've even spoken to their technical support line who can offer no explanation. I just keep signing in to my live account every so often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted February 19, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted February 19, 2009 Yeah I only use Gmail, so it's pretty crappy if I can't change my Gamertag email to it :/ Cmon MS, you can do it on the PS3, shouldn't be that hard to allow it on the 360. Would suck if you had a large gamerscore and you lost your account :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coresx Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 If only this would happen to my Xbox 1 gamertag, I want it back! Email and tag has been dead for 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 How do you check what the associated email address is? Is it as obvious as it sounds, the one that you sign into xbox.com with? Cos I started my XBL with an @hotmail, then changed it to a different @live account, not sure if I just changed the sign in and contact address or if I changed the officially associated address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamerboy Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 How do you check what the associated email address is?Is it as obvious as it sounds, the one that you sign into xbox.com with? Cos I started my XBL with an @hotmail, then changed it to a different @live account, not sure if I just changed the sign in and contact address or if I changed the officially associated address. I think you can go to manage account on either xbox.com or the console. Not sure about that tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BajiRav Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 One solution...just enable messenger on Xbox and it should take care of it. Messenger logins are also counted as web logins. Yeah I only use Gmail, so it's pretty crappy if I can't change my Gamertag email to it :/ Cmon MS, you can do it on the PS3, shouldn't be that hard to allow it on the 360. Would suck if you had a large gamerscore and you lost your account :p Umm, I don't have PS3...so what's with MS and PS3? :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smashing Pumpkin Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 One solution...just enable messenger on Xbox and it should take care of it. Messenger logins are also counted as web logins.Umm, I don't have PS3...so what's with MS and PS3? :blink: I think when he say's "MS, you can do it" he means the you can do it is a subordinate clause and the you is a reference to PS3 owners who can change their email addresses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted February 19, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted February 19, 2009 I think when he say's "MS, you can do it" he means the you can do it is a subordinate clause and the you is a reference to PS3 owners who can change their email addresses. Pretty much, it's not a big thing to ask for and if it prevents peoples accounts getting wiped I don't see why MS can't remedy this by allowing 3rd party email addresses. The reason I mentioned another platform is to show it's being done on other consoles, so there can't be legalities or patents preventing say Google Email being linked to a console. Most likely just MS not wanting to be affiliated with Google :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethos Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 It's because Microsoft want people to sign up for a Hotmail / Live / Whatever account, it looks good on the pie charts - Business 101. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akav0id Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Hmm, would your gamertag be hit with this expiry glitch if you linked another email address to your live/hotmail one via https://account.live.com I wonder :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remysaus Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Pretty much, it's not a big thing to ask for and if it prevents peoples accounts getting wiped I don't see why MS can't remedy this by allowing 3rd party email addresses. The reason I mentioned another platform is to show it's being done on other consoles, so there can't be legalities or patents preventing say Google Email being linked to a console. Most likely just MS not wanting to be affiliated with Google :p err, my live account is with gmail, you just have to register it at live.com first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spenser.d Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Windows Live ID?s and Gamertagsb>I want to take a moment to talk about Windows LIVE ID?s and Gamertags. Recently, there have been a few stories about Gamertags becoming unrecoverable. I want to set the record straight, and let you know what is going on, and what we?re doing aboutWhat happens: : In the rare case that you DO NOT sign in to Xbox.com or another website that uses Windows LIVE ID (like Hotmail) it is possible that your Windows LIVE ID expires (goes dormant.) An Xbox LIVE Gamertag is unrecoverable from the system only when the associated Windows Live ID has become dormant and the Gamertag has been deleted from all Xbox 360 consoles. Members with dormant Windows Live IDs can continue to enjoy the benefits of their Xbox LIVE Gamertags on their Xbox 360 consoles, including earning Achievements; however, they will not be able to use their expired Windows Live IDs for activities such as account management on Xbox.com. It is important to note that an Xbox LIVE Gamertag is unrecoverable from the system only when the associated Windows Live ID has become dormant and the Gamertag has been deleted from all Xbox 360 consoWhat you can do to prevent having any problems:s: We recommend that people log into their Windows Live ID on Xbox.com or Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web at least once every four montWhat we?re doing:ing: We are actively working on an update that will allow you to link your Gamertag to a new Windows Live ID if one becomes dormant. If anyone should have an issue regarding their Xbox 360 or Xbox LIVE account should visit xbox.com/support so we can assist you. Major Nelson -Spenser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted February 20, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted February 20, 2009 err, my live account is with gmail, you just have to register it at live.com first. I'm pretty sure all you've added is an alternative email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynnoj Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 My gamertag is currently registered with my WLM address, but it's rarely used now. Can I change the e-mail associated with my XBL account to prevent this from happening? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remysaus Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I'm pretty sure all you've added is an alternative email. and i'm positive the only mailadress i used during the registration was my gmail account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted February 20, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted February 20, 2009 and i'm positive the only mailadress i used during the registration was my gmail account. Maybe correct for registration, I can't confirm that. But there's many people who registered with hotmail and may want to change now - That can't be done I don't think. If it can tell me how, when signing into Xbox.com just now I need to use my hotmail which I don't use any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defiantly Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Isn't the simple act of going on xbox.xom and signing in to view your stats enough to reset to dormant counter on yu account? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted February 20, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted February 20, 2009 Isn't the simple act of going on xbox.xom and signing in to view your stats enough to reset to dormant counter on yu account? Must be, I never use my email and the only thing I've ever done related to it is sign into Xbox.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spenser.d Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Yes, that is enough. Read the MN article I posted a few replies above this. He explains everything. -Spenser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoadorable Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 didn't succeed in making MS or the 360 look bad...only people this makes look bad are those who treat the service as a nuisance and try to dodge the freakin circulars by giving an email address they never check. if you think the service is a pain, why even sign up? and if you don't, why give them an irrelevant email address? of course, i do agree that even if the address is no longer used it shouldn't result in an all out account reset. now that's the issue - there has to be a way around this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
what Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 My gamertag is currently registered with my WLM address, but it's rarely used now. Can I change the e-mail associated with my XBL account to prevent this from happening? You can try. I can change to a custom email address just fine, but when I want to switch to my Gmail account, I can't. Something about birthdates not matching, when they clearly do. To do it, set up a new Live ID with your wanted email address, then sign into your console and go to Account Management >> Live ID, where you can (attempt to) change the ID associated with your tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
»X« Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 (edited) ^ I've been having the birthdate problems for a long long time. I was sick to death, phonecalls to their support line gave me nothing. However I fixed the problem. I just changed the birthday to 1 Jan 1970 out of spite. And it worked, transferred my points and everything. Edited February 22, 2009 by _X_ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virtualmadden Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 So glad I choose to use my gmail for Live since my first account. In fact, I don't think I've logged into Hotmail for 8yrs maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynnoj Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 You can try. I can change to a custom email address just fine, but when I want to switch to my Gmail account, I can't. Something about birthdates not matching, when they clearly do.To do it, set up a new Live ID with your wanted email address, then sign into your console and go to Account Management >> Live ID, where you can (attempt to) change the ID associated with your tag. Awesome, that worked for me. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts