Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Killing Xbox 360s?

Following the release of an Xbox 360 update that was said to fix issues some users were having with HDMI-related sound issues, numerous posters on the official Xbox forums have complained that the update instead rendered their console inoperable.

The mandatory dashboard update, which users must apply if they wish to sign into Xbox Live, arrived early Tuesday morning. Since then, we've received several tips pointing to this thread on Xbox.com, which has at least 30 posters claiming that their consoles displayed the fabled "Red Ring of Death" after applying the update.

When reached for comment, manufacturer Microsoft provided the following response:

We are always taking steps to ensure our customers have the best experience on Xbox 360 and we have a detailed and comprehensive test and acceptance plan for our software updates to the console. If you are having any problems, please visit support.xbox.com so that we can assist you.

At this point, Microsoft isn't commenting further. Some speculate that the usual increase in reports of system failure following an update is mere coincidence, while others postulate that it stems from defective hardware destined to fail, not the update itself.

It's also worth noting that at least some of the posters complaining of issues say they are no longer covered under the three year warranty against the "Red Ring of Death," and must now pay for repairs if they wish to continue gaming on their current console.

While it's yet to be confirmed if the update is causing issues, there is past precedent. PlayStation 3 maker Sony saw similar issues last summer, quickly removing a system update following reports that it left some, but not all, PlayStation 3s inoperable.