Free Undertow is this week's XBLA release, bummer

by Dustin Burg { Jan 21st 2008 at 3:30PM }

Today's press release about the XBLA Awards also mentioned that this week Undertow would be a free download starting Wednesday, which wasn't any new news to us. But uncharacteristically missing from the XBLA press release was any information about a new Arcade game releasing for the week. So, we sent out a query to the powers that be to see if we would be getting new XBLA love on Wednesday. Coming to our rescue was the always timely Major Nelson who gave us the bad news confirming that there will be no new XBLA release this week, just some free Undertow. That means there will be no rumored Rez HD or Chessmaster Live gaming for you. Oh well, there's always next Wednesday ... sigh.

Tags: undertow, xbla, xbox-live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

HazyCloud @ Jan 21st 2008 3:37PM

I am happy to say thanks for the break. My credit card thanks you.

x silence x @ Jan 21st 2008 3:42PM

This is just great! Now XBL is going to go down again... or is it even back up?

I will laugh if the traffic screws live up even more.

Arnie @ Jan 21st 2008 3:49PM

I highly doubt it. The characteristic of the traffic also matters and not just bandwidth. I am sure they have plenty of bandwidth to handle this download. Also, remember that have had free XBLA downloads before and none of them broke (as such) the XBL system.
Another point is that the download is over 5 days Wednesday-Sunday so you will have plenty of time to download it.

Michael Paul @ Jan 21st 2008 4:19PM

I just thought of a good question for next week: what's the deal with slow Xbox Live Marketplace downloads: intentional cap for reliability or just too cheap for good servers?...

TxdoHawk @ Jan 21st 2008 3:46PM

Laaaaaaaaaame. How hard is it to flip the switch to "free" for a few days? I would have liked to see something, even a retro arcade game remake, if only because every Frogger sequel that gets shoveled out means one less title to potentially hold off Rez and the other awesome stuff in the pipeline.

Orenthol @ Jan 21st 2008 3:47PM

I fucking knew this would happen. MS takes any opportunity it can GET to be lazy with XBLA.

Hooligunn @ Jan 21st 2008 3:53PM

Im seriously annoyed. NOTHING about the XBL downtime has annoyed me, not even the fact I owned Undertow on day one (and loved it btw) and that's the free game bothered me.

But for them to not bother putting new releases up because of it? Heck I could be playing REZ HD on Wednesday paid for, whilst everyone enjoys the brilliant and FREE undertow.

This is lame. Now I can't even get a new arcade game to play around with whilst everyone enjoys something free. Pssht.

T3H WICKERMAN (TMNT DF) (BWF) @ Jan 21st 2008 3:59PM

Weak. How about a majors minute apologizing for the DRM problem and an update on it? Is that too much to ask for or does it take more class action suits to get any info out of em?

jc @ Jan 21st 2008 4:05PM

WOW REALLY?!?!?!? Thanks guys I and everyone that has not been in a cave already knew this. Along with all your other 3 day old posts. Bring back knockers Johnson, unless you are to busy to post this website anymore. Joystiq is way ahead of you.

TORO @ Jan 21st 2008 4:12PM

I need Castle Crashers!

Tony @ Jan 21st 2008 4:12PM

It's a holiday just after the weekend, give them a break.

This move makes sense anyway. It's pretty clear that anything released this week would be ignored in favor of Undertow for a vast majority of people... it's free for both gold and silver users, even.

xenocidic @ Jan 21st 2008 4:18PM

holiday?

Knight Marquise @ Jan 21st 2008 4:17PM

J.H.C.

Did everyone fall off their mothers tit yesterday? What's with all the whining and bitching? FFS, I owned carcassone from day one, and it didn't bother me when they gave it away.

Lastly, I reviewed my TOS with MS, and never read anywhere that they guarentee a new XBLA title every week. Am I missing something????

CJJB @ Jan 21st 2008 4:35PM

MS would be more popular if they just gave us 800 points instead to buy a game we want!

Who wants undertow?

flameofdoom666 @ Jan 22nd 2008 1:08PM

I do! It is the 3rd highest rated game on XBLA!

animefan316 @ Jan 21st 2008 4:28PM

I want Chessmasters Live!!!!!!

Virtua Fanboy @ Jan 21st 2008 4:29PM

"WAHHH! They're giving away a free game!" Please, lol.

Chase09 @ Jan 21st 2008 4:45PM

It's sad that xbox live is going to do something good and people still want to complain. I mean seriously can't you find something better to complain about.
and this goes to the people who made this article too.
I am just happy to be getting a free xbla game.
You dont get something like that everyday.

H2O Mr B1gg @ Jan 21st 2008 5:52PM

This Sucks.....

Mr BoomStick XL @ Jan 21st 2008 6:08PM

Talk about total BS!!! Not only are WE getting a SH*TTY so called FREE game MS follows suit with "This weeks XBLA release is........." WOW, talk about disapointment!!

Tyrone Hawk @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:03AM

I called customer support late this afternoon, and the notice I got was that an official anouncement will be posted for the Undertow owners.

If not the 800 points, I would prefer Pac Man CE or Street Fighter...

x silence x @ Jan 21st 2008 6:19PM

I complained and got XBL time instead. Why the hell would I want a "free" game that I'll play once...

if that.

ryan @ Jan 21st 2008 6:25PM

wow, the people that are complaining about a free game update really look...pathetic. does your life just revolve around a once a week xbla release?...wow.

i for one never buy arcade releases, so to have a full one for free sounds just grand to me.

bDavid @ Jan 21st 2008 9:24PM

this is like getting a gift card to a store you would never shop at ... they should have gave us points and let us decide what game WE wanted ... and please 'xbox live team' you have a year till next xmas holiday and this happened last year and the year before so there should be no surprise .. the system will be busy at xmas so DEAL WITH IT and get it figured out !?!