Microsoft launched a new-look Xbox Live online portal for its consoles on Wednesday, providing users with a new platform for social interaction and home entertainment.
But some Xbox 360 owners say their console has experienced technical problems following the software upgrade. On the Xbox support forums , users are complaining that the update has frozen their machines, broken the DVD drive on their console, and rendered some game discs unplayable. It is not yet clear how many Xbox users are affected.
Microsoft said it was aware of the issues and was working hard to resolve them. "This has been a revolutionary time for Xbox 360," said a spokesperson for the company. "We pushed out the [software update] to over 14 million Xbox Live members worldwide. As a result of an unprecedented level of member activity, a small percentage of Xbox Live users may have experienced temporary service issues or delays.
"We are diligently monitoring and addressing issues as they arise. We appreciate our members' enthusiasm and patience, and apologise for any inconvenience."
The Xbox 360 console has been beset by technical problems in recent years. Many users have experienced the so-called "red ring of death", a fault that causes their console to freeze during use, prompting Microsoft to offer repairs and replacement consoles to those affected.
