NXE hitting 360s with red ring, freezing and sorta-sexy-avatar issues?

If you wouldn't mind looking up from that avatar creation screen for a second -- yes, we're aware of how much that t-shirt selection means about you as a person -- you might notice that your Xbox 360 is dead. At least, a few hapless souls on the Xbox forums seem to think NXE is to blame for such atrocities. Numerous folks are reporting variously bad red ring configurations, random freezing and a huge pile of blockbuster titles that won't just play themselves. The biggest problem is that Microsoft isn't universally treating problems caused by NXE as an "oh, our bad" sort of situation, and at least from anecdotes we're seeing has charged quite a few folks $100 to fix their freshly-out-warranty Xbox 360s -- not to mention separating them for weeks from their precious murder simulators.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

What has your experience with the NXE update been like?

Perfect, and my avatar is sooo sexy. Maybe it was glitchy a bit, I dunno, I need to get back to Fallout 3.Pretty buggy but no showstoppers. Tons of freezing, but hasn't died yet.Red ring'd a bit, now it's back. I'm scared.Bricked but Microsoft is picking up the tab.Bricked and Microsoft said "die in a fire," charging $100. This question doesn't apply to me, I just like messing with poll results.Vote

[AVG @ Nov 20th 2008 12:24PM]

360s are still red ringing?! Is this some kind of a joke? Jesus... shoddiest console ever, ever, ever made (and no, that does not mean the WORST overall, I am talking craftsmanship).

[Joe @ Nov 20th 2008 12:34PM]

The RROD is still happening in part because the console just hit its third year, meaning there are a fair number of people who have pre-Falcon consoles that haven't RROD yet. I'm not saying all pre-Falcon will, but they are certainly at much higher risk. And of course you hear of the RROD around this time of year since folks are playing their consoles more as the big games come out ... and this year has the NXE.

Of all those that I know that have RRODed, all have been 2005 and 2006 consoles.

[The Joker @ Nov 20th 2008 12:34PM]

Even the PS3, which is very well built, has bricked on various firmware updates.

The extremely high failure rate of Xbox 360 is well documented. There are some major design issues that will likely continue to cause failures until the next console from MS is released.

[AVG @ Nov 20th 2008 12:39PM]

"Even the PS3, which is very well built, has bricked on various firmware updates."

Completely irrelevant. A small percentage of PS3s have bricked from firmware updates. Hell, even the Wii has. But the 360 is a totally different story. The amount of them that break is exponentially higher and the REASONS they break are far more varied. So the PS3 losing a few units to a firmware update is nowhere near the fiasco of the RRODs.

[Jon @ Nov 20th 2008 12:41PM]

My PS3 had the PS# version of the Red lightof death like 6 months ago and they wanted me to pay to get it fixed .. and just this week my ps3 harddrive crapped the bed , lucky i had a back up and i dont use it for games anyway so i dint lose much .. And i did have a 360 RRoD on me .. so in my eyes they are tied 1-1 ...

[murph @ Nov 20th 2008 12:48PM]

amazingly, my launch X360 is still chugging along, no problems (knock on wood).

meanwhile, a 2nd X360 I picked up in early 2007 has died twice.

[The Joker @ Nov 20th 2008 1:01PM]

@AVG

You missed the point in your rush to defend the PS3 and interject irrelevance.

The point is that firmware updates can brick all electronics (including the PS3 and Wii). Just because a few XBs are bricking from a firmware update doesn't mean it's related to the RROD fiasco. Sometimes it's just insufficiently tested code regardless of the quality of the hardware.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 20th 2008 1:17PM]

I bought a second year 360 in Spring 2007 and it Red Ringed on me last month. I mailed it in and they got it back to me a week later, and I realized it was a REFURB.

The person who'd used it last had their clock set for LONDON time Zone so that must mean it came from there.

As for this "new experience"

I HATE IT

If I'd wanted a goddamned MII character, I'd have bought one of those piece o shit WII's. I tried to design my character but a bunch of options are missing. Black gloves, black suit, Walther PPK pistol...It PISSED ME OFF SO MUCH.

Now all the menu's are hard to navigate. I want MY OLD 360 EXPERIENCE BACK.

[Andre @ Nov 20th 2008 1:19PM]

@Joe:

A lot of the failures are older consoles, sure, but new ones are still failing too. My latest system, an Arcade purchased in August, lasted 36 days before it got teh RRoD.

[AVG @ Nov 20th 2008 1:43PM]

I didn't miss the point. Comparing a 360 to a PS3 when it comes to a bricked console just isn't reasonable. One is a hardware failure fiasco the likes of which we've never seen. One is a total rarity. Just because "other systems break" doesn't give Microsoft reason to have a console with this sort of pitiful existence.

[absinthe party @ Nov 20th 2008 1:49PM]

@ Flashpoint

I don't have a 360 or anything, but uh.. isn't this new experience supposed to be completely optional? If you don't like the face of progress, don't accept it. Easy enough.

[Loban @ Nov 20th 2008 2:15PM]

My bro's Falcon just RRODed on him 2 weeks ago. So yes, even the newer Gen xboxes are red ringing. Microsoft did a great job with the software on the xbox, but man the hardware design is just garbage. I guess that's what happens when you want to be first to market.

[josh @ Nov 20th 2008 3:55PM]

AVG

When you make 20 millions consoles, you bout to get some bad ones right? Of course you do it happends to any mass production. nothing is perfect. now all we see and heard is ppl with rrod, but how many is that. 5% -10% maybe. The point is that we will see bad units from time to time. I'm sure you heard from friends that their cell phones, ipod, computers,gps,bluettoth,tv, dvd, etc etc have some bugs and not working as it should. So yes the RRoD are still around. to sad for the one that got it.

[donkamero @ Nov 20th 2008 2:28PM]

@absinthe_party... This update is not optional, at least if you ever want to connect to xbox live. If you are connected to xbox live you have to download and install the update or you won't be able to sign in. All updates are compulsary for xbox live users.

[absinthe party @ Nov 20th 2008 2:56PM]

@donkamero

Ah, my bad. So using the avatars and the gumdrop lollipop experience is mandatory, or can't you just switch back to the blade interface?

[Aaron @ Nov 20th 2008 3:19PM]

Wait, so, 4.2% of people on Engadget bought their Xbox 360 *before* 20th November 2005 (i.e. the 3 year RROD warranty has expired)?

The console was only launched on 22nd November 2005!

[anonymitee @ Nov 20th 2008 4:06PM]

I had seven --yes, seven RROD'd consoles before the one I have now. But hey, I got PGR3 and a couple of months of XBL GOLD for free. Besides, I just bought the blasted thing for Halo. And now to-be Halo 3: Recon

[donkamero @ Nov 20th 2008 4:17PM]

@absinthe party

You can't switch back no, if some people don't like the new dash they will have to suffer it.

I am not all the bothered with it either way. I do like how it is faster (more responsive) and that party chat is now included, I like the new guide as well I guess. Since I am in the UK we can't get Netflix, the real highlight, so for non-US customers it is certainly lacking (there isn't all that much to get excited about). Don't get me wrong, it's fresh and easy to use, it is definitley better, but I can't help but feel we are missing a huge chunk of the features without Netflix (which every single review of the NXE holds as the main feature, or to qoute engadget "the big-daddy feature")..

I am sure it will pan out to be good in the long run for non-US customers once some of the functionality is expanded on with more apps, but untill then, we are missing out over here ...again

[BraveJhawk @ Nov 21st 2008 3:35PM]

@Aaron

I am one of those that bought the console when it came out. Pre-ordering it on gamestop.com a month or so before it came out and got one from FedEx on launch day. I still have and use somewhat regularly (I got married the following May) the original console. I have since bought (on eBay) an additional console because my wife likes to play with me.

And yes, I am a very lucky man. Now I just need to buy a second copy of COD:W@W

[anon @ Nov 24th 2008 1:22PM]

nxe causes red ring of death. NXE causes RROD. New xbox experience causes RROD. New xbox experience causes red ring of death.
My xbox 360 got the RROD within minutes of downloading the new xbox experience. It's an unmodded 2007 model and I do not play all that often. Microsoft is the next GM.

[Arkenklo @ Nov 20th 2008 12:40PM]

Can't afford an Xbox :(

[LiqwidZero @ Nov 20th 2008 12:41PM]

Damn economy!

[LiqwidZero @ Nov 20th 2008 12:41PM]

To the person below:
I replied to the wrong person.

Now, to correct:
Damn economy!

[StalematE @ Nov 20th 2008 12:57PM]

me neither :[ can't afford beer AND an xbox 360... gotta keep your priorities in line...

[HoboJuiceExplosion @ Nov 20th 2008 1:36PM]

Just wait until after Jan. 20th. You'll be able to buy one and put it on the taxpayers bill. Everyone Gets A Bailout in 2009!!!

[The Joker @ Nov 20th 2008 1:37PM]

I wish you told me that before. I just burned a huge pile of money.

[Mobius_1 @ Nov 20th 2008 3:37PM]

"And I though my jokes were bad."

[RandyFD @ Nov 20th 2008 12:26PM]

So much for the new Xbox experience, I guess its a bad experience form some :)

[Sally @ Nov 20th 2008 12:25PM]

I haven't had a problem yet, but now I am worried. It has already been sent back twice. Too bad they couldn't solved those heat issue problems before they released it.

[LA Smog @ Nov 20th 2008 2:40PM]

It hasn't had a problem but you sent it back twice? Huh? You just like shipping it around or something?

[donkamero @ Nov 20th 2008 4:24PM]

Are you using DHL? Maybe the user is trying to get it to break?

[gonintendo @ Nov 20th 2008 5:00PM]

I think he means he hasn't had problems with the NXE yet.

[Backlin @ Nov 20th 2008 7:32PM]

My launch console is doing just fine, except for the blasted DVD drive, that really needs to be replaced.

[Yeah... @ Nov 20th 2008 12:26PM]

Just like every other big release is to cause, and let's face it - this is the biggest of big releases since everyone connected to Live got it.

When Gears came out, "Gears bricked my 360"
When Forza came out, "Forza bricked my 360"
When COD4 came out, "COD4 bricked my 360"

It's called coincidence, and it happens when tens of millions of people all download the same software on the same day.

[Cal @ Nov 20th 2008 12:37PM]

Your comment bricked my 360 =(

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 20th 2008 12:44PM]

Even my bricks have been bricked.

[SaltyGary @ Nov 20th 2008 12:56PM]

It's not always coincidence. Last years fall update bricked my 360 and many others. As soon as the auto-reboot occurred I popped in Bioshock and it didnt last 2 minutes. At the time there were hundreds of folks on that exact day who had the exact problem.

And if you say anything else to the contrary my avatar will kick your ass!!!

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 20th 2008 1:17PM]

I agree with you. And BTW, Gears did brick my 360 (the first time).

Many 360s are bricks waiting to happen. When something is the big seller/downloader, the machines that were just about ready to expire were likely to expire while running that popular software.

Basically, 360s are of awful quality. The old ones much more so then the new ones though.

Viva Pinata 2 is what ate my most recent 360, the one I had to pay to replace because MS doesn't cover optical drive problems under the 3-year RRoD warranty.

[therpham @ Nov 20th 2008 1:29PM]

This is what I came here to say. Just because something new and exciting came out and your 360 has been running for 18 hours straight with poor ventilation doesn't mean it's the game's fault when the innards melt.

[donkamero @ Nov 20th 2008 2:09PM]

@absinthe_party... This update is not optional, at least if you ever want to connect to xbox live. If you are connected to xbox live you have to download and install the update or you won't be able to sign in. All updates are compulsary for xbox live users.

[steve @ Nov 20th 2008 2:33PM]

we've bricked the people responsible for bricking the brick comments

[Kerber @ Nov 20th 2008 3:14PM]

Not counting the people who "just like messing with poll results," it looks like roughly 10%, of the people who have voted so far have gotten the RROD hammer to the head. That seems exorbitant, even for the 360. And I'm not sure if "coincidence" can account for it.

I just hope mine continues to work. This would be a terrible month to be missing my 360!

[Valicore @ Nov 20th 2008 5:59PM]

Well people, don't shit a brick.

[InvadrZIM @ Nov 20th 2008 12:29PM]

mine actually red ringed before NXE came out. and i had jsut gotten BK: nuts and bolts and BK the original game, made me sad.

lasted a good 2 years though, i was surprised, i thought i got lucky.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Nov 20th 2008 12:29PM]

Why would they have magically stopped red ringing? It didn't happen to all of them on the same day. The Elite I bought about a year and a half ago hasn't gone RROD, but I mostly play movies on it. If it's going to fail, mine might take longer than most.

My biggest gripe about the NXE is how long it takes to get up and running. I tried to do it yesterday before a meeting I had at work, and between multiple downloads and reboots, I was watching the clock.. then that god-awful 2 minute intro video played, I said fuck it, shut everything off, and went to work.

The NXE is very clean looking. You could say MS tried too hard to make it pretty, but the old "blade" setup had an odd mix of elements on the screen. You'd switch blades, but also be able to move around in 2-d space in the current screen to find options, some of them were extremely poorly laid out. This new interface has a simple up/down, left-right movement that makes sense, even though on first glance it might look more confusing.

I watched the Office in HD last night on Netflix streaming at 500-700k/sec, and the quality was awesome.

[nsdcx @ Nov 20th 2008 12:35PM]

After the initial boot, the intro movie disappears. To me, it seems like the NXE boots faster than the blades did.

[Chird @ Nov 21st 2008 3:07AM]

Yeah it does boot a bit faster.

Only problems I've had are the friends list lockup (look at friend details and then go back to the friend list and it freezes) but that seems to have stopped happening and the Netflix low-quality stream problem (it defaults to lowest quality for no reason) but again, that seems to have fixed itself as well.

And as far as bricking...it's probably a coincidence in 85 percent of the cases. I would bet 10 of the remaining 15 is user error (like the "disc eating error" when they first came out..."um...i dropped it down a flight of stairs while it was booting the disc and theres a big scratch in it now...this console sucks!!!DURRRR!!!!"). It's probably people who shut it off or something while it was installing...or they changed video source off HDMI which also powers it down. The last 5 percent I would guess are the only ones that actually had a software problem. And in those cases it was probably something like they had a save game for Super Dirt Mover 3: The Revenege of Poorly Coded Man on their HDD and it somehow didn't mesh well with the NXE.

[Jon @ Nov 20th 2008 12:31PM]

I call BS on this issue .. Let the red ring of death issue die already

[Rotaryfan @ Nov 21st 2008 11:49PM]

idiot.

[Alex L. @ Nov 20th 2008 12:32PM]

How's this a New Xbox Experience? Seems like the same old experience...