A new survey reveals that 42 percent of Xbox 360 users have had console failure, with many experiencing multiple trips to the repair shop.
It is an affliction that has struck gamers everywhere. The tears, the heart breaks, the taunts from Playstation 3 users. Almost every Xbox 360 user has either been affected by, or knows someone that has been touched by the dreaded plight that is the red ring of death. And the potential support group is big.
In a new survey conducted by nofussreviews.com, out of 500,000 people surveyed, 42 percent claimed to have experienced hardware failure on their Xbox 360s. By comparison, the Playstation 3 had a low 8 percent failure rate, while the Wii had an incredible 1 percent failure rate. To make matters worse for Xbox owners, 55 percent of those with failures have needed more than one repair or replacement, and 39 percent have had to repair or replace their consoles more than two times.
The poll did not take into account specifics such as amount of time played, or how much use each console received- which could be a factor.
For those lucky enough to have avoided the frustration and pain of never seeing or hearing of those cursed red rings, the red ring of death is the indicator of a failure on an Xbox 360 console. Four sections form a circle to represent controller connections, and when there is an issue with the system, whether it is an unplugged connection or something more serious, the lights will flash red, signifying that the system has issues
The numbers are bleak, but not entirely unexpected. Although not all Xbox 360 failures are red ring of death related, Microsoft acknowledged the problem in September of 2007 and had the chipset manufacturer, Falcon, create a new generation of chips. Problems still plagued the Xbox 360, prompting Microsoft to switch chipset manufacturers altogether, and in November of 2008 the Jasper chipsets were introduced. The most recent survey does not include data on when the Xbox was manufactured or purchased. The red ring of death accounted for about 60% of all 360 failures.
Microsoft has taken the issue seriously, going as far as to extend the warranties for a year at a cost of $1 billion. The survey falls between other estimates from 2009 that place the Xbox 360’s failure rate anywhere between 23.7 percent and 54 percent (this print only survey issued by Game Informer magazine also shows slightly higher PS3 and Wii failure rates as well), but neither survey polled nearly as large of a sample group.
Since the switch to the Jasper chipset, projections suggest that the worst is behind Microsoft but the older the Xbox 360, the more the chance that it will fail.
Showing 23 comments
RSSWhat a joke.
I received great support and a fast repair- had my 360 back in 2 weeks from time sent to time returned- but I hear I may be in the minority. I know one guy that waited 5 weeks for his 360.
I haven't found any polls that include date of manufacture, but it seems that the Jasper-model 360s made in late 2008 and on seem to be working alright. Small consolation when I got my first RRoD. A little piece of me died when those lights began to mock me. Like three little red fingers flipping me off...
Speaking of, I also discovered that the "towel trick"- wrapping your 360 in towels after you get the rings, letting it heat up then cool down, actually works! For about 2 weeks.
In contrast, I have not had any over-heating issues with my PS3 etc. Knock on wood though.
I sent it in under the extended 2yr warranty with Microsoft since mine was one of the original XBOX's, and got it back.. it sounds worse than before with grinding sounds but at least it boots and works now. I'll never buy another game console from Microsoft, it's just not worth it and they clearly don't back up their products with quality support. Given how much I spent on it and how little use I've had out of it, pretty sad this is what I've gotten as a consumer.
Bottom line - 500,000 sample size = very accurate.
To say that alittle less than half the xbox's sold will fail, is rediculious. it would be like saying if you bought 3 xbox's the 3rd one you buy will fail. Way too many variables for that to an accurate statement.