This sudden flick of the switch hopes to catch out a huge number of illegal copies, flagging their consoles for ban on Xbox Live. Halo: Reach is included too.
The discs receive new coding now for Xbox 360 games, referred to as AP 2.5, which were first found on FIFA 09 in 2008 for the console. As burnt copies of games aren’t perfect they therefore lack the AP 2.5 ‘handshake’ necessary to work on Xbox 360.
The latest dashboard update, which includes ‘Boot to Disc’ being re-enabled, has also turned on mandatory AP 2.5 checks for Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops and Halo: Reach. This helps protect Xbox Live from cheaters but also catch the largest number of pirates.
Unfortunately for team Xbox, the pirates already have a counter-measure in place. While they can’t replicate AP 2.5 physically on disc they have had success with smarter DVD firmware which can apparently mimic what the system checks for.
Also there are reports that this pro-piracy firmware will forcibly freeze the console should it detect the AP 2.5 ‘handshake’ has failed, preventing the dashboard from flagging the console for ban on Xbox Live.
It’s at least progress in any case unlike the dire situation Sony and the hacked PlayStation 3 are finding themselves. Infinity Ward should feel a little more pleased now.
