A gamer in Brazil has successfully sued Microsoft after their Xbox account, containing numerous digital games, was suspended following a hack. The court ruled that the company must restore the account and award the player approximately $400 USD in damages.
The ordeal began when the Redditor, known online as Ordo_Liberal, reported their Microsoft account had been compromised. According to their account, Xbox customer support confirmed the unauthorized access but stated they were unable to recover the account. The support agent reportedly informed the player that the account would be permanently suspended to prevent further use, necessitating the repurchase of all digital games.
Despite providing evidence of using two-factor authentication, the player was allegedly told by support that account recovery was beyond the scope of customer service. This led the player to pursue legal action in Brazil, where they utilized a public defender at no cost.
After a three-month legal process, the court ordered Xbox to reinstate the gamer's account and all associated digital titles within 15 days. The ruling also mandates compensation for moral damages. Microsoft was reportedly represented by twelve lawyers during the proceedings.
The court's order includes a daily fine for any delay in compliance beyond the 15-day period. If Microsoft fails to comply within the stipulated timeframe, the state may initiate criminal proceedings for ignoring a court ruling.
This legal outcome follows a period of significant restructuring within Microsoft's Xbox division, which recently announced layoffs and the reassignment of several game studios.