Xbox Series X / S

Jefferson D'Arcy said:
I've got a Series X and a really pernickety problem.

My Microsoft profile was previously set to a UK locale. I changed it as well as the xbox location to South Africa. I also loaded a 12mth MEA region Live Gold sub.

All was fine until I tried to upgrade to Gamepass when I hit a region error. This happens from the Xbox UI as well as the browser. The pop-up suggests changing your region or contacting support if that doesn't work.

Those of you who've tried will know that Xbox support is practically non-existent at the moment. You ring the number and the IVR refers you back to the website to request a callback. The website does not allow you to request a callback and chances of getting a live chat session are slim to none.

I am hoping I can eventually reach MS and get support to recognise my Gold sub in the local region.

---
So with all this I'm restricted to my old games (downloads as the physicals are back in London), the free Live Gold titles or making new purchases. Forza 5 and Fifa 15 load times are massively reduced and looks great albeit representative of their age. Destiny 2 looks great and flies along and Mudrunner hardly taxes a machine of this calibre and plays as it would on anything else but there was a good Black Friday saving on all the expansions. I'm using a Samsung Q60 so can do 120FPS or 4K.

Desperate to play something more recent like Forza 7 but don't want to buy it given its a Gamepass title.
Click to expand...

I have the same problem. I subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate in 2019 and am subscribed until mid 2022. I subsequently moved or UK, changed my region, payment details, etc, and have been buying games from the UK store. After I received my XSX from Amazon last month, they sent me a discount for 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate. So I bought it and when I tried to redeem, got some odd region error. Logged a call back with MS and got a call about 1 1/2 hours later. 38 minutes into the call, MS still couldn't answer why it would work and blamed Amazon for giving me the incorrect region, even though the supplier on Amazon was MS themselves.

Anyway, so I contact Amazon knowing they would refuse to refund, and after much explaining and begging, they refunded the order.

Only afterwards speaking to my peeps on SAG did somebody mention that if you subscribed in one region, you can't extend it from another region, regardless if your MS account and console has been changed to new region.

So now I must just wait for my a subscription to end in 2022 before subscribing again.
 
Last edited:
AdrianH said:
I have the same problem. I subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate in 2019 and am subscribed until mid 2022. I subsequently moved or UK, changed my region, payment details, etc, and have been buying games from the UK store. After I received my XSX from Amazon last month, they sent me a discount for 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate. So I bought it and when I tried to redeem, got some odd region error. Logged a call back with MS and got a call about 1 1/2 hours later. 38 minutes into the call, MS still couldn't answer why it would work and blamed Amazon for giving me the incorrect region, even though the supplier on Amazon was MS themselves.

Anyway, so I contact Amazon knowing they would refuse to refund, and after much explaining and begging, they refunded the order.

Only afterwards speaking to my peeps on SAG did somebody mention that if you subscription news bought in one region, you can't extend it from another region, regardless if your MS account and console has been changed to new region.

So now I must just wait for my a subscription to end in 2022 before subscribing again.
Click to expand...
Before you get upset with Microsoft re region mixing, just remember they at least let you change your region.

Back in Sony camp I am sitting with my PS game catalog spread over 3 different country locked accounts. UK + NZ + RSA. Oddly enough I have the same single Microsoft account I used, when I was in those countries. I still have the games + achievements I picked up playing Xbox 360 way back when, also my crappy gamer tag that I picked up b4 I had brains.

I did change my Microsoft account to SA back in 2012 and it gave me no crap about wrong regions when joining GamePass last month, and I know I use to sub to Live Gold b4 I came to SA. So must be a recent thing?
 
AlphaJohn said:
Before you get upset with Microsoft re region mixing, just remember they at least let you change your region.

Back in Sony camp I am sitting with my PS game catalog spread over 3 different country locked accounts. UK + NZ + RSA. Oddly enough I have the same single Microsoft account I used, when I was in those countries. I still have the games + achievements I picked up playing Xbox 360 way back when, also my crappy gamer tag that I picked up b4 I had brains.

I did change my Microsoft account to SA back in 2012 and it gave me no crap about wrong regions when joining GamePass last month, and I know I use to sub to Live Gold b4 I came to SA. So must be a recent thing?
Click to expand...
The only thing that ticked me off was MS basically blowing me off after 38 minutes on the call and blaming Amazon, but never once explaining what the issue is.
 
AdrianH said:
The only thing that ticked me off was MS basically blowing me off after 38 minutes on the call and blaming Amazon, but never once explaining what the issue is.
Click to expand...

What do you expect from help desk?

I remember back when Microsoft SA had a local help desk. Both me and my brother applied for the same position. I had MCSE my brother barely knew how to turn a PC on.... he got the Job. Turned out they wanted someone that can read off the screen and not someone that knew computers. <-- lost all faith that day, also explained a lot.

Back to topic: The biggest problem with gaming (Also movies) is the false borders aka regions, regional pricing also have some part to play at it. So because you can get some stuff in one country that is banned or cheaper than another they have legal obligations to place limits on how things can swop/move from one country to another. Help desk normally have no clue about this as its system level enforced as part of development spec.

Strongly suspect if you do what I did you wont ever have an issue. Do a clean swap/break ie: Let all your subs expire for at least a month and then start a fresh on a new console. Anything else is a gamble.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Yuu
BANG_Mutha said:
Does anyone know the Xbox stock situation in SA at the moment? Do all these online stores that state they have stock really have stock at the moment?
Click to expand...
Doesn't seem like they have the stock on hand - most online stores give a delivery estimate of 5-10 working days for delivery.

I ordered on Friday and the status shows as "on back order"

Getting really impatient now
 
Not sure about all online stores but the one I purchased from FNB on Sunday is already on its way.
I know our local pnp is fully stocked with both X & S
 
AlphaJohn said:
Do a clean swap/break ie: Let all your subs expire for at least a month and then start a fresh on a new console. Anything else is a gamble.
Click to expand...

I'm considering doing this. Dumping the current account, hard resetting the console and starting afresh.
 
****ing Nedbank still on backorder for stock
:mad:

Anyone have contact details for unlocked.me?
 
Thinking about getting my brother onto the XBOX Series S. He is a PS fanboy, but with 0 stock of PS5's available and the R12k cost, and the fact that his TV is "only" Full HD/1080p, it seems to make sense for him to get the Series S and sign-up for gamepass.

Wondering if we signed up for Gamepass Ultimate if I could use the PC Benefit and he could use the Console benefit? He doesn't have a gaming PC.
 
Micdew said:
Not sure about all online stores but the one I purchased from FNB on Sunday is already on its way.
I know our local pnp is fully stocked with both X & S
Click to expand...
Hi bud I checked on the FNB website I cant find the console anywhere do you have a link?

Which PNP are you referring to? Thanks
 
Markd said:
Wondering if we signed up for Gamepass Ultimate if I could use the PC Benefit and he could use the Console benefit? He doesn't have a gaming PC.
Click to expand...

Yes you can, one coworker created a "family account" just for this. He used it on his PC and his brother has a Xbox One....
 
AlphaJohn said:
Yes you can, one coworker created a "family account" just for this. He used it on his PC and his brother has a Xbox One....
Click to expand...
Hold on a second?

Will it work with separate gamertags or does he and his brother use the same one? My wife is currently paying for Game Pass for PC and I'm paying for Ultimate. If there's a family option then that would be great.
 
Solitude said:
Hold on a second?

Will it work with separate gamertags or does he and his brother use the same one? My wife is currently paying for Game Pass for PC and I'm paying for Ultimate. If there's a family option then that would be great.
Click to expand...

Apparently if you log into Xbox and set it as "Home" it shares that GamePass account to anyone that logs into the console. So you log into console with GamePass Account activate as home and log out. The other user logs in with their own account and have full GamePass access.

The PC user then use the Main account and the Console can use guest accounts <-- if that makes any sense?

Edit: Must admit never seen this "Home" option on my Series S so def gonna check that out tonight... not that my Wife cares about games, but is a good to have.
 
Last edited:
Venom7 said:
Hi bud I checked on the FNB website I cant find the console anywhere do you have a link?

Which PNP are you referring to? Thanks
Click to expand...
It was on sale for R5999 this weekend but that ended yesterday.

Home - eBucks

eBucks is South Africa´s leading multi-partner rewards programme where you will be rewarded for doing everyday things like banking and shopping.
www.ebucks.com www.ebucks.com

PNP Hyper Brackenfell but its normal price there.
 
AlphaJohn said:
What do you expect from help desk?

I remember back when Microsoft SA had a local help desk. Both me and my brother applied for the same position. I had MCSE my brother barely knew how to turn a PC on.... he got the Job. Turned out they wanted someone that can read off the screen and not someone that knew computers. <-- lost all faith that day, also explained a lot.

Back to topic: The biggest problem with gaming (Also movies) is the false borders aka regions, regional pricing also have some part to play at it. So because you can get some stuff in one country that is banned or cheaper than another they have legal obligations to place limits on how things can swop/move from one country to another. Help desk normally have no clue about this as its system level enforced as part of development spec.

Strongly suspect if you do what I did you wont ever have an issue. Do a clean swap/break ie: Let all your subs expire for at least a month and then start a fresh on a new console. Anything else is a gamble.
Click to expand...
Was this back in the day where you had to phone Microsoft to activate Windows?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X