What other industry is allowed to just do this? Its robbery. If I want to buy an Xbox and mod it to hell I should be able to. At most they should be able to disconnect me from their online infrastructure. Not brick my console.
Why console makers can legally brick your game console
Submitted 19 hours ago by schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de to games@lemmy.world
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/05/why-console-makers-can-legally-brick-your-game-console/
Comments
Sanctus@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
entwine413@lemm.ee 15 hours ago
Printers
Yermaw@lemm.ee 16 hours ago
Pretty sure cars are basically the same now.
BleatingZombie@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
The only place I’ve seen it is if you didn’t finish paying for it (like getting a fence replaced at your house and then not paying them will get it torn down)
thermal_shock@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
You get a lien, not your fence torn down usually. Cant do anything to the property until it’s paid
kadup@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
If you live in a shit hole like the US, yes.
It’s totally illegal over here.
capuccino@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
so, chair makers can unchar your chairs??
masterofn001@lemmy.ca 17 hours ago
Using unapproved polish is against the tos and we have issued a DMCA (the C is for chair) notice of violation.
Your chair has been locked.
If you wish to unlock your chair, go fuck yourself. Pay us for another one.
Sincerely,
Go fuck yourself.
punkcoder@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
While these kinds of “bricking” clauses haven’t been tested in court, lawyers who spoke to Ars felt they would probably hold up to judicial review.
This is laughable at best, would 100% never go to court. The cost of losing would destroy so many models… and defending in it in the light of real consequences is going to make them popular… Ask the RIAA how suing customers made them look.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 2 hours ago
Threat? Have you not seen Nintendo suing their customers the last 4 decades or so?
Dequei@sopuli.xyz 17 hours ago
“Your game console”
watson387@sopuli.xyz 18 hours ago
That would be the last console I ever bought.
smeg@feddit.uk 13 hours ago
Assuming this article is talking about the USA? This doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that would fly anywhere with half-decent consumer protection laws.
DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 hours ago
God we are still going to Milk this story 2 weeks later?
SW42@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
Because capitalism and Greed. You pay money for some piece of hardware and expect to own it? In what world are you living?