Still unable to log in, but the game installed… even patched (so content servers seem online)
Seems like everything is functioning to me.
I thought maybe the disconnect of the authentication servers would have blocked the content servers and thus caused physical media to be blocked but no… I’m not having any issues playing right now.
To further this study I’m going to yank the CAT5e cable and delete the install. See if anything happens if I install without the network patch functionality.
Series X firmware update worked. Xbox Live login failed. Still let me into the dashboard. Still let me install Mass Effect from disc. Still patched the game. Still plays just fine.
This outage does not affect physical media any more than unplugging your internet would. If the game runs without internet, the game runs during this outage.
uggg… we get enough heinous garbage from game companies without this false flag crap from news media.
Interesting note: I took the Series X offline and suddenly Mass Effect let me continue! So there must be a check that online services are available, but a failure to authenticate was returned.
I’m going to test another game to see if the same thing happens. Dead or Alive 6 is not installed, is very DLC heavy, and even includes a F2P core version. Let’s see what happens…
Confirmed: Dead or Alive 6 was able to install, fully patch, install all single player unlock keys, launches to start screen… but does not allow me to start a session. Same stuck login screen previously shown by Mass Effect Andromeda.
I yanked the CAT5e, and suddenly I’m playing DOA6.
My apologies news media. This is certainly looking like an outage that prevents any physical media from working… without workarounds.
If anyone has any (reasonable) additional tests you think I should try. Let me know.
Still unable to log in, but the game installed… even patched (so content servers seem online)
Seems like everything is functioning to me.
I thought maybe the disconnect of the authentication servers would have blocked the content servers and thus caused physical media to be blocked but no… I’m not having any issues playing right now.
To further this study I’m going to yank the CAT5e cable and delete the install. See if anything happens if I install without the network patch functionality.
Network patch is nonfunctional with the ethernet cable pulled. Obviously. Same 30 minute install.
I suspect no change, so after I verify I’m going to dig out the Series X to see if that’s different somehow.
No difference, game plays fine… switching to Series X
Series X firmware update worked. Xbox Live login failed. Still let me into the dashboard. Still let me install Mass Effect from disc. Still patched the game. Still plays just fine.
This outage does not affect physical media any more than unplugging your internet would. If the game runs without internet, the game runs during this outage.
uggg… we get enough heinous garbage from game companies without this false flag crap from news media.
and I hit submit 59 seconds too fast. Guess what happens when I hit A to continue:
A login screen!
EDIT: BONUS ROUND
I cannot capture a screenshot of the game asking for a login, as the capture application requires I log in to Xbox Live.
Interesting note: I took the Series X offline and suddenly Mass Effect let me continue! So there must be a check that online services are available, but a failure to authenticate was returned.
I’m going to test another game to see if the same thing happens. Dead or Alive 6 is not installed, is very DLC heavy, and even includes a F2P core version. Let’s see what happens…
Confirmed: Dead or Alive 6 was able to install, fully patch, install all single player unlock keys, launches to start screen… but does not allow me to start a session. Same stuck login screen previously shown by Mass Effect Andromeda.
I yanked the CAT5e, and suddenly I’m playing DOA6.
My apologies news media. This is certainly looking like an outage that prevents any physical media from working… without workarounds.
If anyone has any (reasonable) additional tests you think I should try. Let me know.