Insignia is a non-commercial server hosting project currently in open beta that aims to restore the functionality of Xbox Live for the original Xbox.[3][4] It provides a free service created via closed-source reverse engineering of the original Live server software, hosted on Insignia's own servers, and its aim is to support every title that had Xbox Live support. Some popular titles are either not supported yet or are supported on a limited basis. Games by Electronic Arts used their own servers that were not based on Xbox Live and cannot currently be supported.[5][6]
 Logo as seen on Insignia's webpage. | |
 Insignia's registration page used to register the Xbox to Insignia's servers. | |
| Initial release | July 2022 (Private Alpha)[1] November 15th 2022 (Beta)[2] |
|---|---|
| Platform | Microsoft Xbox |
| Predecessor | Xbox Live |
| Website | https://insignia.live |
| As of | October 2024 |
Insignia can work on both unmodified and modified consoles, as well as Xbox emulators. To work on Insignia, a console has to be registered to Insignia's servers; the user can create an Xbox Live account similar to how it would have originally been done. Insignia is completely free-of-charge and has no monthly fee or initial signup price, though requires an email to register an account.[7]
By November 2024 it has over 19,000 users registered and supports 193 of 339 games that used Xbox Live features.
History
editInsignia was started in 2019 by two developers, Luke Usher and Billy, who decided to work together trying to make an Xbox Live replacement. Billy worked previously on replacement services for the Wii U and 3DS, and Luke was the lead developer of an open source Xbox emulator.[6] It was publicly announced in May 2020 and it was planned to go live later that year.[8] In July 2022, a closed alpha test was started.[9] Insignia went into an open beta on November 15, 2022 and supported 25 games at release; public signups had been open for one month before the beta.
By November 3, 2022 around 7,000 people has signed up for the waiting list.[10][11] By December 2022, 3,500 people were approved and 40 games were supported.[4] By November 2023 it had reached up to 150 games and over 8,000 users.[12]
In March 2024, it was announced that Halo 2 multiplayer servers would launch on March 15. The announcement reached Certain Affinity founder and Halo 2 map designer Max Hoberman, whose reaction to the launch was positive.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Insignia". 2022-07-13. Archived from the original on 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ Gilbert, Fraser (2022-10-24). "Xbox Live 1.0 Is Coming Back, And Signups Are Now Available". Pure Xbox. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ Hall, Alexandra (2020-05-22). "Insignia Project Aims To Resurrect Xbox Live For The Original Xbox". Kotaku. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ a b Xbox, Pure (2022-12-21). "Xbox Live 1.0 Replacement Adds More Supported Titles, 40 Games Now Playable". Pure Xbox. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Lyles, Taylor (2024-03-15). "Halo 2's Original Xbox Live Multiplayer Servers Are Coming Back Online Today Thanks to Fan Project". IGN. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
- ^ a b "The OG Xbox Live Is Back From The Dead--This Is The Team Making It Happen". GameSpot. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ "Insignia - Connect". insignia.live. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ "Insignia Fan Project Looks To Bring Back First-Gen Xbox Live In Late 2020". GameSpot. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Extension, Time (2022-07-22). "Insignia Is Bringing OG Xbox Live Back From The Dead". Time Extension. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Xbox, Pure (2022-11-03). "The New Version Of Xbox Live 1.0 Will Now Support 25 Games At Launch". Pure Xbox. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Xbox, Pure (2022-10-24). "Xbox Live 1.0 Is Coming Back, And Signups Are Now Available". Pure Xbox. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Xbox, Pure (2023-11-16). "Xbox Live 1.0 Replacement 'Insignia' Now Supports 150 Games". Pure Xbox. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Lyles, Taylor (2024-03-15). "Halo 2's Original Xbox Live Multiplayer Servers Are Coming Back Online Today Thanks to Fan Project". IGN. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
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