Microsoft reverses erroneous XBL bans

Microsoft has reinstated a number of Xbox Live accounts after a technical error mistakenly banned a number of users.

As reported by Joystiq, the relevant bans were issued between 29th August and 9th September. Microsoft hasn't confirmed exactly how many accounts were suspended but is promising those affected three months subscription free and a complimentary 1600 Points as compensation.

The problem was caused by an issue with software used in assisting security policy enforcement, which Microsoft has duly stopped using. However, it wouldn't go into more precise detail as to the nature of the problem.

"I really can't go into that, but I'll tell you why - there are entire internet forums dedicated to parsing every word we say about what the console is doing when it is looking for modifications, so that they can figure out a way around it," explained Xbox Live Director of Policy and Enforcement Stephen Toulouse.

"We have to be careful about sharing to that level of specificity, because that's what they're looking for. So, I can't go into what it was looking for, or how it was looking for it, I can only state that due to a software issue it drew up some machines that were not tampered."

Toulouse insisted that the problem was confined to just a small number of users.

"This is a tiny fraction of the overall user base. This is not some widespread problem. If your console was suspended between the dates, the quickest way to find out if you were impacted by the software issue is to simply reconnect your console. If you can log in, you were impacted by the issue and we've unsuspended the console."