Microsoft is cracking down on unofficial Xbox gear
Microsoft has an incentive to crack down on cheat devices more than ever now that it owns Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Diablo, among others.
Microsoft is about to take firmer stance against unauthorized third-party accessories on the Xbox platform. That’s according to error messages that users have been seeing of late, when they attempt to use specific non-branded controllers on the Xbox Series S/X.
The first wave of these warnings surfaced last week, with Xbox One users being greeted by the 0x82d60002 error code when trying to use their third-party Xbox controllers. The message accompanying this error code states, “A connected accessory is not authorized. Using unauthorized accessories compromises your gaming experience. For this reason, the unauthorized accessory will be blocked from use on 11/12/2023.”
Accessory manufacturer, Brook Gaming, known for its fighting boards and steering wheel adapters, first highlighted the issue on October 20, voicing its concern about the feedback it had received from players, acknowledging the potential functional disruptions with their products when used on the latest Xbox OS version 10.0.25398.2266 during online gameplay.
Microsoft’s policy shift targets adapters like XIM and Cronus Zen, which manipulate controller inputs and give users an advantage in popular online games like Call of Duty: Warzone 2 and Rainbow Six Siege. This has led some players to speculate that Microsoft is working diligently to prevent cheating in online shooters.
Nonetheless, the wide-reaching policy also means that numerous cost-effective third-party controllers and specialized gaming accessories will soon be incompatible with the Xbox.
An important question is whether peripheral manufacturers can achieve authorized supplier status or if only the select few with a formalized partnership with Xbox can apply for or receive such certification. Either way, this would likely require companies to pay to get certified, which could either drive up the costs of devices or force certain manufacturers to cease production for Xbox-compatible devices. It’s also unclear if and how retroactive certification” could be applied to existing devices.
Microsoft is taking a page out of PlayStation’s book with this approach. The PS5 exclusively supports officially licensed controllers and accessories, limiting players to a handful of pricier options and greatly reducing the range of available peripherals.
However, Microsoft has elaborated on the impending block on its support page. Once an unauthorized accessory is connected and the user sees error code 0x82d60002, there’s a two-week grace period during which the accessory can still be used. After this, the accessory will be permanently blocked, and users will be advised to seek refunds or replacements.
Third-party Xbox controllers affiliated with the “designed for Xbox” hardware partner program remain unaffected. On the flip side, any controllers not officially greenlit by Microsoft are at risk of generating this block error, potentially affecting devices commonly used for hardware spoofing on PCs.
The fighting game community might be one of the hardest-hit by this new rule. Maximilian Dood, a prominent fighting game content creator on YouTube, expressed his concern, stating, “This is essentially a death sentence for local fighting game events that run on Xbox.” Many in the fighting game realm use Brook Gaming converters, which aren’t cheat devices but are vital for the community.
Despite the clampdown, there’s speculation that this ban might be related to Microsoft’s plans to broaden approval for third-party wireless Xbox controllers. Historically, Microsoft hasn’t often granted licenses for its Xbox Wireless protocol to other vendors. PowerA’s release of the first officially licensed third-party wireless controller for Xbox consoles earlier this year adds weight to this theory.
As the policy rolls out, the implications will stretch beyond just the fighting game community. The use of Brook PCBs for accessibility controls could be impacted, potentially affecting gamers in regions where officially licensed accessories are scarce. Whether Microsoft plans to expand its licensing program to include more comprehensive product components remains uncertain.
Regardless of the reason behind Microsoft’s decision, the move has immediately made an impact. The consensus seems to be a call for Microsoft to consider the broader implications and potential collateral damage of their decision on the diverse gaming ecosystem.
Speaking of Microsoft, the company recently confirmed its plans to double down on its gaming arm. Finally, Matt Booty and Sarah Bond are stepping up to take on new leadership roles, with the former paying closer attention to ZeniMax Media’s projects.