Xbox LIVE to be dropped for original Xbox

Microsoft has announced it is pulling the plug on Xbox LIVE services for original Xbox games.

From 15 April, if you’re still online gaming on the original Xbox, you’ll find yourself cut off due to an update to the service not compatible with the older console.

Microsoft has said the decision wasn’t made lightly, but that it was a necessary move to “provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox Live community”.

Ensuring gamers this wasn’t just a sneaky move to get people to upgrade, Xbox Live general manager Marc Whitten said in a blog post: “Your Xbox LIVE community has grown to 23 million strong. And as we look down the road, we’ll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360.

“To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games.”

All Xbox Live members impacted by the change can expect to receive a message to their LIVE inbox, informing them of the steps that will be taken, reportedly starting with stopping automatic member renewals.

Does the update have something to do with Project Natal? Whitten didn’t say, but did add that the best was yet to come for Xbox LIVE, and that he “couldn’t be more excited” about what’s to come in 2010 for Project Natal and LIVE.

Interesting. Are you going to be affected by the change? Is it fair Microsoft is cutting you out, and if so, will you upgrade to a 360? Let us know below.