14 DAY TRIAL // The video game oriented division of software giant Microsoft has said that a so-called “internal operational error” is to blame for the problems that gamers have had recently when trying to browse and purchase content from both Xbox Live and from Games for Windows Marketplace.
Features likes online gameplay, which is the most important element of Xbox Live, were never affected by the issue and Microsoft has moved quickly to respond to the problems, communicating to gamers what the problems were and pledging to solve them as quickly as possible.
At the moment, all Xbox Live services are fuctional and Games for Windows Live allows for game browsing and purchases.
It's not clear what an “internal operational error” is and Microsoft would not offer any more details on what causes the problems with Xbox Live and its Windows-based equivalent.
The suggestion seems to be that no external party was responsible for the downtime, with Microsoft aiming to make it clear that this is not an external attack like the one that managed to take down the PlayStation Network from Sony and its associated services on April 20.
The last time the Xbox Live service was widely affected by lack of service was in 2007 and Microsoft reacted by moving to restore the service as quickly as possible and then offered a free game for all those who were unable to log in and enjoy multiplayer.
The attack on the PlayStation Network has sparked fears that the hackers responsible might also be ready to attack the services of other gaming-related companies, aiming to again steal personal data, including credit card information, for large amount of users.
Sony in still in damage control after the late April attack and, although the PSN multiplayer and other services are online at the moment, there are still issues with the Store section and the company says that it will bring it back on early next week.