Microsoft extends video game warranty to one year

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. is extending its warranty on the Xbox 360 video game console to one year from the previous limit of 90 days. The change announced Friday applies to future and present owners.

The move matches the one-year warranty that Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. already offer on their latest video game consoles, the PlayStation 3 and the Wii.

This autumn, Microsoft acknowledged that a glitch in the Xbox's online update system damaged a small number of customers' consoles before the problem was quickly fixed. At least one customer has sued over the incident. But Microsoft spokeswoman Molly O'Donnell said the new warranty was not a response to that case or any other repair claims.

Customers who already have paid repair bills on Xbox consoles that they've owned for less than one year will automatically get refunds, Microsoft said.

Microsoft shares fell 34 cents, or 1.13 percent, to close at $29.64 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.