MS cracks down on XBL region-hopping

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Region controls to be tightened up by this week's Spring dashboard update

Microsoft is moving in to clamp down on gamers using foreign Xbox Live accounts to access download content from other regions.

Microsoft said it will tighten up the region controls with this week's Spring dashboard update, which is due on May 7 and also introduces Live Messenger support.

The statement explains that it's Microsoft's responsibility to comply with government regulations and licensing agreements that detail where content can be made available.

"As a general policy we try to get global rights to content, but in some cases, it's not possible because of legal restrictions," the statement reads.

"In other instances, we have to get legal rights on a country-by-country basis, which unfortunately results with us having content on the service that has to be filtered based on geographical location."

No more downloading vague Japanese download content and Blue Dragon themes then.

May 7, 2007