Microsoft permanently banning accounts associated with Halo: Reach leaks

Last week the Xbox Live Marketplace was breached by hackers. The hackers managed to download a review build of Halo: Reach and distribute its files across the internet. Microsoft vowed to look into the matter aggressively. Those who have been playing Halo: Reach online are being met with great hostility from Microsoft. The company is banning any Xbox Live account that doesn’t have explicit permission to be playing Halo: Reach ahead of release.

MaxConsole got a hold of an e-mail Microsoft has been sending to offenders. The e-mail states that the user has violated the Xbox Live terms of use and/or code of conduct. The penalty in this case is a permanent ban on the corresponding gamertag. Everything associated with that Xbox Live account will be rendered useless. The user won’t be able to log into Xbox Live either through a console or computer under the same profile ever again. Microsoft discourages calling customer service to complain because the agents won’t have any details about the suspension, or the ability to reinstate the account.

This goes to show Microsoft takes piracy very seriously. It also goes to show that some pirates aren’t too bright. It makes no sense for someone to illegally download a game then log into Xbox Live where Microsoft can easily trace your account. Even if some people wait until after Halo: Reach is released to play their pirated copy online, Microsoft may still have a way to uniquely identify the game that contains specific files that were stolen from them. If you downloaded a copy of Halo: Reach, just delete it. Not only is it theft, but chances are you won’t be able to hide from Microsoft forever.

Via [Max Console] Read [The Gaming Liberty]