Modified Xbox 360 consoles allow for pirated games to be played and Microsoft does not like that at all (not a big surprise, is it?). However, the surprise comes from the recent decision from Microsoft to intensify the war against piracy by going on a banning spree and banning users who connect to the Live servers using modified consoles.

So, if you are one of the people who has a modified Xbox 360, you will find a big on-screen message informing you that your machine was banned from the server. However, even though very serious business and probably resulting in a huge amount of bans, this measure was not detailed enough by Microsoft – there are no details on how will the company separate legitimate consoles from modified ones.

“You should know that modifying your Xbox 360 console is also a violation of the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void your warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE,” explained Microsoft on the Major Nelson boards. “We will continue to employ and bolster anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy in the gaming industry and improve security in the Xbox LIVE community.”

I’m eagerly waiting for exact numbers. We might be shocked – there are 14 millions user out there, after all!