So the first thing to mention is that this is a dashboard update.

(UK is ear-marked for Wednesday 25th - Friday 27th May 2011)

This update is designed to do 2 things primarily.

Firstly, it is to introduce the larger Dual Layer DVD writable Discs. Microsoft have called this XGD3.

This potentially increases the disc size of a standard Dual Layer DVD Disc from 7.4GB to 8.5GB Approx

How Does this affect Me?

Firstly, if you play standard retail games it doesn't affect you. You simply play on as normal.

If you play backup games, this is a different story.

Upon initialising the update to 0.13146.0, you are effectively letting Microsoft 're-flash' the Firmware on your Xbox 360 DVD Drive.

What Does That Mean

It means all your backup copies of Xbox 360 Games will cease to play on your console in its current re-flashed state.

What can I do about it

C4Eva, one of the most respected Firmware suppliers, is currently working on patching the NEW DASH.

It is stated that

'1. When flashed Xbox 360 connects to Xbox live and accepts an update, the DVD drive will be flashed back to new original firmware which causes :

- No burned/back up games to work
- your drive key will be the same but JF wont be able to 'see' it any more unless you already have it saved (see below)


2. It's possible to reflash the Xbox 360 with LT+ v1.1 firmware after that update and :

Back up games work again except all current AP25 games known ( black screen remains till you reset the console ). Tested AP25 games and others, here is result :

+ Fable 3, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, NFS Hot Pursuit, Halo reach, Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops won't work anymore since they maybe have new AP25 check ( 6 AP25 games had been pre-patched with latest AP25 through current abgx software ( v1.0.5 ). For some reports before, people said Black Ops's and Modern Warfare 2's AP25 were removed on new dash, but sorry this is wrong, they have new AP25 and we have to wait till new AP25 patches release to play them again.

+ Super Street Fighter 4, Fifa 11, L.A. Noire will work as normal. These are games currently tested so high chance other non-AP25 games still working fine.


3. As some rumours before, the xbox itself will reflash the DVD drive back to original every times it reboots, this is wrong because after the update and reboot, LT+ firmware still there, no problems with it. (but highly likely to be flagged for a ban!!)

Tested on: Lite-on 93450c on Jasper v2 ( MFR date : 2009-11-09 ).

No idea about BenQ or Samsung Drives, so if anyone asks for information about these drives, please wait for other people who using these to report.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND REFLASHING TO LT+1.1 AFTER THE UPDATE AS FUTURE UPDATES WILL FAIL!!'

So Should I Re-Flash LT Plus?

My advice is, 'do as your pocket can afford'. If you cannot afford to mess up a console, then keep your ear to the ground and WATCH the info on the forums, as this may save you time and money.

People like myself, can easily test this dash update, so look for the reports as they flood in, on all forums (TTG, ixtreme net, 247Consoles, Se7ensins etc)

Can I Help

All users capable of reporting their drive types and its functionality after updating to the new dash type can help BY REPORTING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND FUNCTIONALITY ACROSS ALL FORUMS!

Do you have other info?

Yes, look at the info below and judge yourself what is what!

gbatemp

Now you ask what it is exactly? Microsoft will introduce the so-called XGD3 disc formats from around late April / early May.
Currently, the XGD2 (Xbox Game Disc 2) formats in use.
The disc image will always have a fixed size of about 6.8GB net and as such are limited to this maximum limit.
The format offers something XGD3 about 1GB more memory (also net) and reached thus roughly 7.8GB.
This 1GB available to developers of course. However, this new hash checks and anti-piracy measures are used.
This XGD3 disc image (if one can read in the conventional way),
cannot be burned to a commercially available double-layer discs, because they are outside the size capacity.
During pressing of the discs in the press shop are virtually forced validation data to the extreme edges of the disc,
which on the one hand, the verification, on the other hand, as an anti-copying system,
since these sectors are not to describe blanks, not to mention the fact that Brenner these do Aunahmesituationen can only describe.

Microsoft reached so many years, an almost sure way to stem the Kopierbarkein.
This is especially which are now contained to a plague which has become piracy.
Only JTAG owners need not imply any idea of what to do next. Text of flying short shrug their shoulders and jump to the next topic.

For everyone else this means, however, that in future, first no more games can be copied.
(Personally, I welcome this step, the longest was necessary in some form!).

The introduction is so well established, however, also certain that we can expect from almost all programs,
the new version that can deal from now on with the XGD3. On the hardware side the way,
no interference is expected. XGD3 discs will work with all previously released (and future) models of the Xbox 360.

247 (re-post)

Here is why, this is NOT my first hand account but someone who has updated:

Important news about new dashboard update:

1. When flashed Xbox 360 connects to Xbox live and accepts an update, the DVD drive will be flashed back to new original firmware which causes :

- No burned/back up games to work
- your drive key will be the same but JF wont be able to 'see' it any more unless you already have it saved (see below)


2. It's possible to reflash the Xbox 360 with LT+ v1.1 firmware after that update and :

Back up games work again except all current AP25 games known ( black screen remains till you reset the console ). Tested AP25 games and others, here is result :

+ Fable 3, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, NFS Hot Pursuit, Halo reach, Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops won't work anymore since they maybe have new AP25 check ( 6 AP25 games had been pre-patched with latest AP25 through current abgx software ( v1.0.5 ). For some reports before, people said Black Ops's and Modern Warfare 2's AP25 were removed on new dash, but sorry this is wrong, they have new AP25 and we have to wait till new AP25 patches release to play them again.

+ Super Street Fighter 4, Fifa 11, L.A. Noire will work as normal. These are games currently tested so high chance other non-AP25 games still working fine.


3. As some rumours before, the xbox itself will reflash the DVD drive back to original every times it reboots, this is wrong because after the update and reboot, LT+ firmware still there, no problems with it. (but highly likely to be flagged for a ban!!)

Tested on: Lite-on 93450c on Jasper v2 ( MFR date : 2009-11-09 ).

No idea about BenQ or Samsung Drives, so if anyone asks for information about these drives, please wait for other people who using these to report.

I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND REFLASHING TO LT+1.1 AFTER THE UPDATE AS FUTURE UPDATES WILL FAIL!!

Wait until c4eva etc look into it and sit tight OFFLINE untill then. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Ixtreme

Even before that new app smell has worn off from Hulu Plus, Microsoft will launch its annual spring update for the Xbox 360 Dashboard. Images sent to Joystiq by a Microsoft tech support employee reveal that the next Dashboard update will begin rolling out on May 19.

According to the documents, the update will be distributed in six separate waves between May 19 and May 30 "to ensure a high quality deployment." Additionally, while not technically part of the automatic update, Avatar Kinect is listed for a May 27 arrival as a separate download.

Aside from offering support for the new Microsoft disc format -- which will "be used in future game titles releasing later in 2011" -- the spring system update will enable PayPal support on the console, extending the payment option "to new international markets." PayPal will be "the only user facing feature" of the update.

Update: Microsoft tells us, "We have nothing to announce."

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/spring530wmedheaderimg.jpg

Also, ensure you read the TTG forums, as you are already on here!

Thanks for looking. If you have any specific Questions after reading this topic, please feel free to ask for more info. We have several guys keeping this up to date. We also have live support on 247Consoles, should you like a real-time response via . We offer this for all forums.