It's no secret that early Xbox 360 hardware breaks and breaks often. So much so that last Summer, Microsoft had to pony up a few billions to extend the 360's warranty just to make consumers happy. Now, with new failure estimates hitting the news-wire, we learn how bad it (potentially) was.A recent report coming from electronics warranty analyst SquareTrade has estimated that 16.4% of all Xbox 360 consoles has a hardware defect. A huge number when compared to the estimated 3% failure rate of both the PS3 and Wii. The estimate was calculated from a sampling of 1000 consoles as SquareTrade reports that overheating problems were the main cause of hardware failures. They also expect the failure rates to climb over time as more and more 360 owners encounter the eventual effects of overheated consoles. The bright side at the ends of this gloomy, monochrome rainbow is the fact that 16.4% is a lot less than the once rumored 30% failure rate. So, that's kind of good. We guess that's the best job we can do at putting a "good news spin" on this.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-14-2008 @ 2:08PM
xvertigenx said...
I don't believe it is not higher than 16%. Every single person I know has had at least one red ring if not multiple times.
But given that... 16% of a thousand is 160(!) failed consoles. That is just outrageous.
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2-16-2008 @ 9:50AM
Goldenorbs said...
I agree i've had four elites since christmas due to various faults and i think it suits microsoft not to comment if the failure rate was lower than 16 percent they would soon comment but its much higher i have heard its as high as 60 percent still i wouldn't swap to another console i have two 360's so when one is being repaired i have a backup
2-14-2008 @ 2:16PM
nerrrrrrd said...
Being one of those who have had a 360 for years w/o a problem, I use to believe it was a vocal minority with the 3rod problem. but now out of the dozen or so people i personally know, only me and one other person haven't gotten the 3rod.
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2-14-2008 @ 3:05PM
Viridium said...
My launch 360 ran fine for just over a year, before suddenly red-ringing during a heated game of... Uno. Since then, EVERY SINGLE ONE of my crew of 6 have had the red ring. Their boxes ranged from launch, to purchased at the first Christmas (so only a several month span).
2-14-2008 @ 2:18PM
Magic Whiskey said...
I'm on my second console.
I think the RRoD issue is essentially over, right? I think it's only older units that may fail from now on. That seems to be what i've heard, at least.
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2-14-2008 @ 2:26PM
Jeramy said...
yeah i used to think that it was just blown completely out of proportion.
then crackdown decided to let me experience the rrod. out of the handful of people i know with consoles, only one of my friends had the rrod as well.
but i don't see how they expect the rate to climb if ms has taken measures to counteract this (new heat sinks and cpu's). i suppose there are old consoles out there that have yet to get broken, but at least the new ones should be safe.
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2-14-2008 @ 3:42PM
Michael Paul said...
I don't think it's the game being played when the RRoD hits that matters. Cloning Clyde is no graphical wonderland but it's what I was playing when my first 360 croaked.
And I think the 16% will go up as older 360's eventually fail, but that factoid will likely be swept under the rug...
2-14-2008 @ 2:27PM
mattclarkie said...
RROD seems to occur more in the US, is it something to do with the different PSU used, or did you just get a lot more launch units/crap ones.
I have a launch that has run almost flawlessly, and I only know of 1 person who has had a console die, out of a dozen or so. I am not saying that Europe doesn't see a fair share of RROD, but there seem to be fewer.
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2-14-2008 @ 4:12PM
xvertigenx said...
That is an interesting point. I wonder what Japan's failure rates are. I can only imagine a high failure rate there combined with the already reluctant stance on buying the console regardless would really kill MS's chances there (not that they have one, but still).
2-14-2008 @ 3:50PM
The Sound said...
You don't hear about Japan because, well, we all know no one buys the 360 over there....
2-14-2008 @ 2:29PM
Code601 said...
I just fear that many many hours of gta 4 will cause xboxs across the world to overheat.
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2-14-2008 @ 2:34PM
MDJ2010 said...
Not sure about that matt, i mean you will hear of more failures in the US simply because there are a lot more people who own 360's as apposed to the UK (for obvious reasons), but Id say the percentage failure rate is about the same, im currently waiting for my console back (which has been an agonising wait) and know that a good number of Europeans on my friends list have experienced the RROD at least once, id be amazed if the real filure rate isnt in reality a lot closer to 30%. Thank god the 360 has all the best games, otherwise it would have been a big failure, I know that if it wasnt for my desire to play Gears, Halo, COD4 etc... that I would have lost my patience completely with M$!!!
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2-14-2008 @ 2:39PM
Neuromancer said...
Among my friends and family the failure rate is closer to 85%. I can think of seven cases where the Red Ring of Death struck, with just one turning out OK. Two of the seven 360's have been back to the puppy farm twice, first for the RRoD and second for other issues.
That being said, and despite massive hardware failure, the 360 is still OK in my book. It has the best games and online services and thats what matters most.
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2-14-2008 @ 2:43PM
cadaver said...
I think this is hilarious, 16.4% failure rate???
100% of my friends list has had to send their console in to MS at least once.
I am on my second 360, and I am one of the few that missed the cutoff for the warranty extension, since mine expired before they extended it.
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2-14-2008 @ 2:46PM
mattclarkie said...
I thought it was extended for anyone who bought a console since launch?
2-14-2008 @ 2:52PM
Knight Marquise said...
So should I find that 16% hiarious as well, considering I own 5 360's, including a launch console, bought another 2 for adult kids of mine last Christmas, and have seen 0% failures?
Anecdotal evidence is worthless, and people get too caught up on the internet thinking it repreresents the real world in statistics. It doesn't.
I know the 360 has hardware issues simply because MS extended the warrenty and admitted their failure rate was unacceptable. 16%, although unacceptable, does sound realistic.
2-14-2008 @ 4:12PM
xvertigenx said...
Well well, lucky you? It is not just a core group of internet users that have experienced it. Tons have or MS would not have even of offered the warranty. a 3 year warranty?! Seriously that is unheard of for this type of product. Kudos to them for attempting *something*, but not changing the fact that they know themselves that the numbers are extremely high.
Also, I am sick of the "small group on the internet" argument as a whole. That might have been true 5 or even 3 years ago. But internet usage has grown leaps and bounds even to the common "uninformed" public.
And lastly, count your days my friend. There is no way in hell all 5 of your consoles is going to last. Impossible I say!
2-14-2008 @ 2:50PM
Dac said...
xbox360 # 6.
Nuff Said. I cool about it though, disk eating cookie monster x box's and the red wink(s). Got a couple free controllers courtesy o microsoft.
That being said though, I did miss out on the halo 3 beta cause of damn rings.
If I miss something big again like gta4 launch I better get a personal fluffer to attend to me lol.
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2-14-2008 @ 3:06PM
MDJ2010 said...
That should be in the damn warranty!!!! If I was without my console for the GTA4 release Id have to go buy another, I just couldn't handle it!!
2-14-2008 @ 3:02PM
L4MB said...
not a problem for me yet, but i have had some loading issues with Oblivion, CoD4, some others. I'm assuming it will happen eventually, just hope i can get a replacement from MS.
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