In an announcement post on Reddit, Insignia is revealed with a video showing someone logging onto online services on what’s said to be original Xbox hardware. The team claims that using Insignia will not require “any modifications or patches” in order to be used. Both stock and modded Xbox consoles should work, “as long as you have a way to dump keys.” Further information will be provided closer to the service’s eventual launch.
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To put it simply, Xbox users will be able to sign in and create an account on this new online service just as if it was Xbox Live in the 2000s. Some small effort on the user’s part will be required so that the console connects to this new service instead of the classic, shutdown version. Once that’s done, however, online Xbox services and multiplayer will work like normal.
That means that Xbox users will be able to play classic Xbox games with Xbox Live functionality through this service. Games like Halo 2, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, Crimson Skies, and others will potentially have full functionality. Much needs to be finished before the extent of the service can be shared, but the potential is exciting.
Those familiar with the Xbox’s current capabilities know that the only current way to play Xbox games online is through tunneling services. These services are more like playing a LAN game online than playing full multiplayer. That’s what drove these developers to create a third-party service to replace the currently unavailable Xbox Live.
For those interested in checking the service out, news and updates are being shared through Insignia developer Luke Usher’s Patreon account. There’s also a Discord server, as well as a private beta being planned for when the service is in need of testing. Things are moving forward fast, so nostalgic Xbox Live fans should keep an eye on Insignia’s progress.
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Source: Reddit
