Team Xecuter posts Blaster360 firmware flasher install guide

In a shot across Microsoft's bow, Team Xecuter has released a how-to for the installation of its yet to be released Blaster360 firmware flasher. There's a range of different motivations behind wanting to flash your Xbox 360, the most obvious being the ability to update your Xbox 360's firmware to a newer and improved version. Of course, whether or not that "newer and improved" firmware is officially sanctioned by Microsoft is another matter entirely. If the homebrew community's relationship with Sony regarding the PSP's firmware is anything to go by, it would probably be safe to assume that Microsoft doesn't even want its users to switch between official firmware versions, let alone modded ones that trick the 360 into playing "backed up" games. In the past the company has never stepped up and taken a public stand against any of these third party solutions; a position that could change due to the main innovation of the Blaster360. As the install guide shows, a user only needs to open their Xbox 360 once in order to change the firmware. Once the chip is all plugged in it's possible to change firmware from outside the box, making it very easy to switch modded machines back to their factory state. That removes an easily recognizable sign that a console is modded, and puts the ball very firmly into Microsoft's court.

[Via Xbox-Scene]

[DWells55 @ Feb 5th 2007 8:22AM]

"the ability to update your Xbox 360's firmware to a newer and improved version."

You guys make it sound like the actual main firmware of the 360 is being modified. This is not the case. This adapter is only designed so that you can flash your DVD drive's firmware easier without opening the system. This isn't a flasher, it's just a fancy extension cable. The only custom firmwares for the Xbox 360 DVD drive are created for the sole purpose of playing backup games. None of this is anything Microsoft is happy with, but they aren't issuing Live bans yet.

[Das @ Feb 5th 2007 9:34AM]

One more step in the direction of modded 360 games. I am not happy.

[Chris K @ Feb 5th 2007 9:36AM]

Uhhh... my Xenium mod chip for my XBox allows me to choose a firmware at a menu when booting up my XBox. I haven't opened the case in more than two years.

Even if this were changing the console's firmware via software, it wouldn't be anything new.

[blargman @ Feb 5th 2007 10:10AM]

you sir are a moron

[brodkil @ Feb 5th 2007 9:46AM]

"In the past the company has never stepped up and taken a public stand against any of these third party solutions"

I would say M$ has taken a pretty solid stand on console piracy. Starting with several busts for modding in Europe and Southwestern US, banned Xbox Live accounts, and new anti-modding methods (glue around the firmware chip). M$ even explained how their 360 is a new revolution in console security. Thank god they overlooked something simple! From my understanding, it's much easier to write firmware than bios.

[Erwos @ Feb 5th 2007 9:57AM]

"One more step in the direction of modded 360 games. I am not happy."

Not really. The DVD firmware exploit can't do anything to allow you to run unsigned code. It'll allow you to run signed code from DVD-Rs, but that's not really going to help cheaters or homebrew - just pirates (and the rare person who's actually running backups).

[JD @ Feb 5th 2007 10:42AM]

Erwos - while you are correct that no unsigned code can be run, and it mostly enables people to run backups only, it does open up the available for people to modify non-signed peices of data on the game discs in order to attempt to find exploits. If it is found that a game does not validate a font or something, it may be possible to expoit this lack of validation by burning game CD's with a exploiable font code that will allow bypassing some sign checking. This is not a huge first step, but is the same sort of thing that gets laymen's feet in the door in order to start tinkering with possible exploits.

[NeoteriX @ Feb 5th 2007 10:07AM]

"Once the chip is all plugged in it's possible to change firmware from outside the box, making it very easy to switch modded machines back to their factory state. That removes an easily recognizable sign that a console is modded, and puts the ball very firmly into Microsoft's court."

As a high tech counter to these fancy firmware hacks, Microsoft could just, y'know, put a "sticker" over the screws so anyone even opening up the case will "void the warranty."

[Kenban @ Feb 5th 2007 10:14AM]

There is already a silver Microsoft sticker right behind the removable front plate. If its gone or damaged then the console has been opened its that simple.

[Edog @ Feb 5th 2007 10:46AM]

Exploiting the 360 DVD firmware does help game modders (cheaters). It's already happening with Gears of War. I'm not referring to the glitchers. There are online players with infinite super-run, who can't be killed in Gears of War(not the glitch run and shoot. It is not rampant yet but this device makes it much more easier for the lesser SW modders.
Once a game dvd contents is copied to your cpu harddrive, the modders use a hex editor and a simple text editor to change variables to this game. Then they burn an image of the altered game on a dvd-r. The exploited dvd-firmware allows someone to play that ALTERED DVD-R.
So the altered dvd fw does aid in modding the actual game attributes.

[ChrisXS @ Feb 5th 2007 4:35PM]

Edog: I thought modifying the disc contents in any way will throw off the checksum and encryption keys.

[Tom @ Feb 5th 2007 11:40AM]

that warranty sticker is a joke... use a hair dryer, heat it up a bit and it pulls right off without any sort of damage, therefore still under warranty.

[BLKMGK @ Feb 5th 2007 1:00PM]

Okay, wake me when I can run unsigned code. This allows you to flash the DVD drive's firmware. Sorry but that's only allowing you to get around the media check to play copied games - I want unsigned code. XBMC makes most every other media front-end look silly but the older XBOX doesn't have enough horsepower. The new one looks to be better but not yet hacked, Microsoft will get my money for a 360 when\if it can run the code I want. Copied games don't interest me....

[joe smith @ Feb 5th 2007 1:04PM]

The only purpose these particular mods have is piracy (and I know you will all start going on about "backups" and we all know that is 99.9% BS). Unlike the PSP firmware, or Xbox mods, this doesn't even offer the possibility of doing interesting homebrew things like the Xbox Media Center and it doesn't expose any new functionality like the PSP stuff. All it does is allow copied discs to run. And that sucks.

[hugoliva @ Feb 5th 2007 2:01PM]

It's been over a year since the last time i used my xbox for playing games. XBMC is all my Xbox plays these days. I will buy an Xbox 360, only when and if it is possible to modify it the same way that the original in orther to transform it into a media player.

[Sean Benton @ Feb 5th 2007 3:58PM]

You'll be waiting a while. Microsoft doesn't want your business.

[Edog @ Feb 6th 2007 11:57AM]

replying to ChrisXS
They use this program called ISO injector, by Prey.
I would post the write-up but I don't want to promote cheating.

[Alex @ Feb 6th 2007 4:44AM]

I'd be interested if it allowed me to bypass region protection. I can buy a perfectly legal game and not be able to play it if it's not from my region.