Microsoft Ups Xbox 360 Warranty to One Year

Microsoft said today it would extend Xbox 360’s 90-day warranty to one year, a retroactive move that takes into account those who have already purchased the console.
ImageThe Redmond, Washington-based software giant said that it wanted to bring the standard US and Canadian Xbox 360 warranty up to par with the one-year warranty that the system enjoys in most other regions.

The extension, effective today, covers those who will be buying an Xbox 360, as well as those who have bought an Xbox 360 up to a year ago. Those who have already paid for repairs on an Xbox 360 within their first year of ownership will automatically receive a reimbursement check in the mail in about 10 weeks.

No contact with Microsoft is necessary to receive the checks, the company said in a statement.

The deal misses the ultra-early-adopters by almost a month, as the system launched November 22, 2005 in North America, but the vast majority of owners will still be able to benefit.

Rival consoles PlayStation 3 and Wii also boast a one-year warranty against mechanical defects, although you can extend the Wii’s warranty by 90 days by registering the console with Nintendo.