Update 2: According to Major Nelson's Twitter and various reports from readers, Xbox Live is back online. Again, we'd warn you to expect some rolling restarts as millions of gamers attempt to reconnect. "The storm has passed," Major wrote. "Back to Live you all go." Well, then? Go!
Update 1: Looks like Xbox Live and Xbox.com have gone down again. According to the Xbox.com support page, Microsoft is aware of the issue and is currently working on a solution.
Original Story: Users are emailing us en masse that Xbox Live has just stopped working. Reports are circulating from users across the globe that the online service is no longer allowing players to connect. Xbox Live recently underwent a 26-hour offline maintenance on Monday but throughout the day today users complained of issues from downloading content, playing online games and in minor cases connecting at all.
Xbox.com also appears to be having issues as it is not displaying player profiles and is loading pages slowly. Currently, Xbox.com's support page does not list the service is experiencing any issues other than TruSkill and EXP rewarding problems associated with Halo 3. We'll keep you posted as details come in.
Original Update: According to the Xbox Technical Support phone line Xbox Live is experiencing network issues that are keeping some customers from accessing the service. Microsoft is aware of the issue and is currently working on it and recommends users attempt to reconnect in one hour. Don't shoot the messenger.
Xbox Live is back online. You know, we know it. But how well is the service performing after its 26-hour downtime? Reports indicate that some services are not working as expected but some say the online service is working fine in all areas. Who to believe?! X3F has consulted billionaire scientists, NASA specialists and the world's best sandwich makers for answers and created this poll in response. Uh, the sandwich makers are only here because we're getting a little hungry though ... they aren't voting on this one.
Early this morning when Xbox Live was reactivated from its 26 (or so) hour slumber, Halo 3 users in Matchmaking discovered a problem. Users were angered to find that their Halo 3 TrueSkill and EXP were not being rewarded properly after each match -- that is to say it didn't work at all. According to Bungie and the Xbox.com support page, the problem is being investigated and hopes to be solved as soon as possible. Bungie noted that the issue may appear, at first, to be an EXP ban but users will be able to tell the difference when a very specific warning message is displayed. X3F will update you as soon as it learns more.
Cue the "Welcome Back, Kotter" theme music! Xbox Live has returned to normal saving gamers unable to play their favorite online titles from boredom and saving Microsoft at least a few more hate letters to read. After hitting a speed bump during the maintenance, which only served as a stepping stone toward the New Xbox Experience, the Live service is back online.
Remember there are no new features added to the Xbox 360 or Xbox Live service at this time. We expect some connections to be a little bumpy as millions of fans attempt to reconnect at once but things will smooth over time.
So, the question now remains. Is Xbox Live working for you?
Quick update for anyone who decided to stay up and sneak in a few games of (insert your multiplayer game of choice here). According to Major Nelson, the scheduled Xbox Live maintenance is running later than originally expected. Originally scheduled to end at 11:59PM PT, according the Xbox.com support page, Major Nelson says the team will have an update on the status at 2AM PT. Maybe you should hit the sack and dream of a beautifully performing Xbox Live for the morning because we imagine updating and reactivating a service with 10 million plus Gold and Silver members might take longer than anyone thought.
For more information on the Xbox Live service tune into X3F or keep an eye on the Xbox.com support page.
[Update: The service is now online.]
[Update: Microsoft's support page has been updated thanking gamers for their patience reminding this update is important as the company plans to roll out exciting new features - also known as the New Xbox Experience - in the future. Remember, this is not the new system update but an important stepping stone. Another update coming at 2AM PT as the Xbox support team works "around the clock."]
You fire up your Xbox 360. Set yourself comfortable in a chair. Scroll down the dashboard menu and select your copy of (insert your online shooter of choice here) and... wait... what the?! XBOX LIVE ISN'T WORKING!
Oh, yeah! Remember kids, Xbox Live is down all day today until early tomorrow. The 24-hour downtime on Xbox Live will help prepare for the New Xbox Experience. The NXE will completely change the Xbox 360 dashboard you know and love into something Microsoft believes will be much cleaner and appealing to a wider audience.
So the new dashboard is totally coming out tomorrow, right? Sorry. This downtime is just prep. No new features are expected when the Xbox Live service returns. What will you be playing for the next day?
Well, it only took two days after the initial update but Xbox Live seems to be back to normal again. According to the support page on Xbox.com the service is fully functional and thank goodness!
Xbox Live is sure to be tested this Tuesday when Grand Theft Auto IV hits store shelves. Will the service be up to the task? We'd like to think the tech ninjas at Microsoft have been preparing for this very situation, but don't ask us to put money on it. What? Gambling is wrong, that's why.
Update: According to the Xbox.com support page, Xbox Live is up and running but some users may encounter issues with matchmaking and voice communication. Apparently technicians are working on the issue as we speak ... uh ... I mean type.
Reports are coming in from readers that Xbox Live is currently encountering intermittent connection issues, by that we mean playing online, voice communication and even connecting to the service seems to be touch-n-go. The support page for Xbox.com has verified the service has hit a snag, while Major Nelson updated the situation at 11PM EST letting Xbox Live users know that "[the] team is updating [the support page] as conditions change."
While we understand the frustration our readers are feeling we'd like to echo a comment made when Live was down on Monday, better it be now than on or after April 29. No excuse we know, but we're trying to find that silver lining.
Yesterday Xbox Live was scheduled to go online at 1:00PM EST after an 8-hour hiatus for maintenance. However, like any guarantee, Xbox Live suffered from staggered connection issues well into the evening. According to the Xbox.com support page and Major Nelson, Xbox Live was back to business early this morning. Today, in a rare poll, we wonder what your experience is like. Fire up the Xbox 360 and connect to Live, play a game or two online and let us know what your experience is like now that the dust has settled on the connection problems.
Update: Major Nelson updated his initial post letting XBL users know that the tech team is aware of some issues with the rolling restarts. They are looking into the situation. Again, we ask that you be patient and just think about all the dudes you'll be shooting on April 29.
According to Major Nelson, the scheduled maintenance for Xbox Live that left the service offline since early this morning is complete. Before you fashion your trendiest riot clothes and pitchforks we'd like to remind you that while the service maintenance is complete users may experience rolling restarts around the globe. As an example, the service has restarted for our own Dustin Burg but has left this Canadian out in the cold (see what I did there?) with connection issues.
If you are experiencing connection issues we ask that you be patient before flooding our inbox with "ZOMG, they broked Live" news tips. Looking for something to do? May we suggest checking out X3F TV! While our Nielsen ratings aren't anything to write home about, we can at least assure you our gaming related videos are more entertaining than watching anything that Spike TV does with this industry in mind.
Update: As of this morning the Xbox.com support page says the service should be back up to speed.
Updating you from our story a few hours ago comes new information regarding the state of Xbox Live. A little under an hour ago Microsoft and Activision have acknowledged the issues that have plagued the Xbox Live and Xbox Live Marketplace services. A notice was posted on the Xbox.com support page as well as the above message found on the Game of the Year Map activation page for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
While no formal reasoning is given the community finger has points squarely on the Variety Map Pack for Call of Duty 4 that released earlier today. Even though we're assured via Twitter, "the team is aware of issues w/ LIVE" from Xbox Live's Major Nelson, we wonder how the service will cope on April 29 as the world attempts to experience Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV.
We go ahead and announce a social gaming night and Xbox Live goes and hits the slow setting! According to some readers, Xbox Live is experiencing slowdown reminiscent of the Holiday '07 debacle. The general guess is that the popularity of the recently released Call of Duty 4map pack may have a hand in the current network situation.
While some readers are experiencing login issues, download errors and general feeling of the service being dragged through molasses, we've been receiving friend requests for the last hour and a half for tonight's big game while connected to Xbox Live without any issues other than a slow performance from the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Even though Xbox Live is acting up we're still trucking along with tonight's X3F Live! So make sure to add the gamertag X3FLIVE to your Friend's list. Hey, now that we think about it, maybe the lag will help with our sniping!
According to a post on Gamescore Blog and the message we got when we logged onto Live, Xbox Live and Xbox.com will be down for maintenance on April 1 from 2-5am PDT. Before you start making your "Spring Dash Update is Nigh!" signs, we're being told this is a routine process that will go on in the early hours of the morning. In the meantime you should play the Battlefield: Bad Company beta or Halo 3 online or Call of Duty 4 multiplayer. Wait. Oh no! What will we do?!
Major Nelson has sent us word that there will be a day scheduled downtime for Xbox Live and Xbox.com on October 17th. October 17th ... hmmm. Why does that sound familiar. Wait a minute! That's when we get Double Agent. What the hell, man! And not only that, October 17th is the second to last day of the PSU beta -- which is already delayed to begin with. So what the hell do we do now Microsoft? What the hell do we do now?!
Ah well, guess we all gotta deal right? The boys at Xbox.com even suggest 10 things you can do without Live. And Major Nelson reminds us all that this is not the Fall dashboard update, though apparently "cool stuff" is being added. What that means is anyone's guess. Now we just figure out what to do. Anybody want to go bowling or something?
[Thanks, Larry, AKA Major Nelson]
Update: It's Xbox.com, not Box.com. Give me a break. I'm jet-lagged here.
You fire up your Xbox 360. Set yourself comfortable in a chair. Scroll down the dashboard menu and select your copy of (insert your online shooter of choice here) and... wait... what the?! XBOX LIVE ISN'T WORKING!
Well, it only took 
Yesterday 
Major Nelson has sent us word that there will be a day scheduled downtime for Xbox Live and Xbox.com on October 17th. October 17th ... hmmm. Why does that sound familiar. Wait a minute! That's when we get 
