Some owners of the 2013 launch model of the Xbox One are reporting issues with the console's inability to download new firmware updates.
Our sister site, Digital Foundry, pointed out today that several users on NeoGAF reported that their original Xbox One unit cannot install system software updates for the console, regardless of whether the system is brand-new or used. Digital Foundry reported that three of its Xbox One launch models are running dated dashboards — two have the "Fluent Design" introduced to the Xbox One dashboard in 2017, while the other is using a revision released in 2018. The outlet reports none of these consoles were able to update, despite attempts to update a new firmware via the internet or offline means using a USB device.
Digital Foundry notes that this does not apply to all original Xbox One models, also known as the "VCR" model, nor has this issue been reported on newer hardware, such as the Xbox One S released three years later. Microsoft did not immediately respond to IGN's request for comment.
While the full extent of the issue has yet to be revealed, the fact that some launch models of the Xbox One cannot update can pose a litany of problems. Chief among them is that players who own this particular unit and are experiencing issues cannot sign into Xbox Live.
Additionally, those who buy brand-new VCR Xbox One models and encounter this issue will be unable to set up the device properly, as the initial setup requires the console to be connected to the internet to receive an update. In contrast, those who buy a used one and attempt a factory reset will fall victim to the same if the system becomes affected.
Another concern for the push for a digital-only landscape
Some of these launch models, such as Xbox Ones, are getting locked. While not a widespread issue, it's yet another concern to factor in as the gaming industry pushes heavily to favor digital-only as the primary and sometimes only option for buying games. As Digital Foundry writes, the outlet can infer that digital purchases that require an online login would likely also not work "unless the machine is set up" as the user's home console or the same thing if the system becomes affected.
However, what is even more concerning is that these consoles' potential to stop working outright would mean anyone with a digital game library essentially loses access to all those games due to the format they were purchased. This news also comes the same day Microsoft formally shut down the Xbox 360 marketplace, leaving a slew of games that were never re-released or received backward compatibility support for newer hardware that can no longer be purchased.
As most consoles begin to sell without an optical disc drive, with signs that mid-generation refreshes may not provide an option to buy a disc drive at all, there is now the concern that these consoles, while physically in good shape, may still be unusable if there are errors installing firmware updates. When the Xbox One originally released, Microsoft was extremely vague in its language that the eighth-generation console would have required an "always-on" internet connection.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
