Microsoft adjusts Xbox Live functionality due to pandemic

As demand for cloud services surges, custom gamerpics disabled and game updates only delivered in off-peak hours.

[SegaSaturn669]

You cant update your game to play during peak hours?? Thats a pretty big incentive to avoid xbox.

[PyroMessiah86]

Poor attempt at trolling. PS4 already put pandemic measures on their services like 2 weeks ago (or more?)

[CBaoth]

no, it just means more updates will occur at night to prevent bogging down the network. This is smart.

"At the same time, we're taking proactive steps to plan for high-usage periods, which includes taking prudent measures with our publishing partners to deliver higher-bandwidth activities like game updates during off-peak hours."

Don't know about you, but I much prefer a million COD gamers downloading the next 17gig update at 4 AM than 4PM....on a Friday

[ElementX]

If the servers aren't updating then you don't have to update to play during peak. They'll run the old version until the updates happen.

[DJStotty]

You can update your game whenever you like.

[rainslacker]

This just pushes automatic updates to off-peak hours. you can still force a download. It will maybe throttle the speed, likely due to keeping their network running smoothly for more important things, but they aren't restricting people's access otherwise.

[Artemidorus]

Not good Microsoft.

[Kabaneri]

Custom gamer pics disabled? Thats weird.

[meka2611]

Man these companies and people are dumb, gaming doesn't take that much bandwidth, it's actually all the streaming with Netflix, hulu, or youtube. But sure let's blame gamers as usual.

[TKCMuzzer]

They are not as dumb as some of the comments on the internet, as you glowingly prove. All these companies are in a far better position to know what action needs to be taken better than you or I. These are unprecedented times in which everyone (unfortunately, probably not everyone) and every company is trying to do what's best, not just for those who are ill but making sure all modern amenities etc are provided for those who are stuck at home.
If people can not put up with minor restrictions whilst thousands are dying then maybe they should just have their internet disabled, just to appreciate what they have and they are still around to have it.
By the way, all streaming companies have limited their bandwidth usage to help the issue, therefore this is NOT targeted at gamers, unfortunately , you as a gamer just see it that way.
Anyone moaning about these kind of minor inconveniences in the the current climate needs to find a mirror and have a long, hard look.

[meka2611]

Oh fuck off dude. I work in IT and my brother in law works for comcast, gaming does not take much bandwidth, and the virus is actually overblown so calm down. You sound like a salty bastard and are believing the hype from the media, if you look at the numbers the mortality rate is low on this, stop listening to MSM.

[rainslacker]

A single game, or even thousands of people downloading games, or updates, is not that much bandwidth relative to what's actually available. But, when you have millions of people all using this bandwidth more, and at times when they may not be otherwise, it starts to add up. MS has a limit on their servers just like the internet has a limit on how much data it can transfer in a given amount of time. If their servers are already using huge usage during peak hours, then it makes sense that adding even more on top of that is going to affect others who may need the bandwidth more....namely enterprise software, which is where MS makes most of it's money.

On top of games, and lots of people stuck at home using streaming services to pass the time, you have a huge increase in the number of people working from home. How do people work from home? Most of them are connected remotely to their work, and either streaming their desktops from work, or sending data back and forth across the internet. That's millions of people sending huge amounts of data back and forth.

This isn't some random coincidence. Netflix and Amazon are also throttling their network usage. Sony started moving automatic updates or pre-loads to off peak hours, and throttling their overall bandwidth per user. If they didn't, the ISP's would, and if the ISP's didn't, the server farms that actually are the internet would.

MS internet networks are indeed extensive, and some of the best in the world. But they aren't limitless.