MS changes gamerscore limit to 1750

By Tom Bramwell Published 1 May, 2009

Sources confirm rule change regarding DLC.

Microsoft has updated the rules regarding the total amount of Achievements and gamerscore that Xbox 360 games can award to players.

Although the company has not officially said so, several unconnected development sources have confirmed to Eurogamer that the upper limits are 80 Achievements and 1750 gamerscore respectively.

This confirms a report earlier this week on Xbox360Achievements.org (thanks Kotaku).

The specific rules are that a boxed game must offer between five and 50 Achievements for a total of 1000 gamerscore, while up to 30 Achievements can be offered via downloadable content for a maximum of 750 gamerscore.

According to UK sources, the current software development kit documentation refers to this, but also contradicts itself in a few places. However, developers understand that the limits have changed and are working to the new certification requirements for future downloadable content.

Previously, developers were limited to 1000G on the disc and 250G in downloadable content, but games like Halo 3 most notably and also Fallout 3 have since convinced Microsoft to go further.

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (26) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Skandalle #1 3 years ago

    Im not a hardcore "achievement farmer" but i know a few who are, and im not sure if they'll be pleased to get more points, or disappointed that the value of points will be diluted.

  • DFawkes #2 3 years ago

    What about LOTR: BFMEII? It doesn't even have 1000.

  • syphaa #3 3 years ago

    Strange...why would they change it now?

    Im a bit of a horder of gamerscore and am always chuffed to see the 1000/1000 mark hit, 1750 is a bit ridiculous...maybe if DLC is involved then thats not as bad. Personally I think its a dumb idea, it changes the whole dynamic of gamerscore.

  • Zomoniac #4 3 years ago

    Presumably Bungie buttfucked MS into letting them have more and everyone else complained?

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #5 3 years ago

    Crackdown only offered 900 points boxed, but then added (I think) 350 points in its excellent DLC.

  • DrDamn #6 3 years ago

    Given the abundance of cheap points in games which do not bother properly then value of the score is meaningless anyway. The point value is only relevant within the context of the game you got it.

  • sanctusmortis #7 3 years ago

    IIRC the reason there's 1750 listed for Halo 3 but not all is earnable is because MS say it HAS to be split over a certain amount of DLC. Also, they wouldn't allow a 6-map pack, as it's too much in one DLC.

  • Cappy #8 3 years ago

    Perhaps by the end of the generation they'll reach the levels of stratospheric scoring seen in old Sega arcade games i.e. Space Harrier. It undoubtedly would drive sales of DLC to a certain sector of the market.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #9 3 years ago

    I hadnt noticed that this was even a problem till yesterday. If you look on the Criterion website the new Cops and Robber DLC comes with 3 new Achievments, But on PS3 where i guess they dont have these limits or have higher limits it comes with 8 new Trophys.

    On that note i bought the cops and robbers DLC and the servers were down, was a bit peeved to say the least.

  • metallicorphan #10 3 years ago

    bah a little too late i reckon,GTA lost and damned could of done with more achievements,especially one for getting all the seagulls

  • muscleblade #11 3 years ago

    @metallicorphan

    More DLC for GTAIV is coming so they definently need those extra points for the upcoming DLC.

    @Syphaa

    +1

  • Stu #12 3 years ago

    I don't understand the points thing.

    It's more of a reflection of (a) money to spend on games and (b) time to spend playing them than (c) skill - but then maybe that was the idea all along...

  • metalangel #13 3 years ago

    Once again, achievements are nothing more than the evolution of the high score table.

  • Spekingur #14 3 years ago

    What metalangel said.

    Also, the upper limit for a boxed copy is still 1000 gamerpoints and 50 achievements. According to this 750 gamerpoints and 30 achievements can be added through DLCs. Which could point towards Microsoft's putting more focus on DLCs.

  • sneetch #15 3 years ago

    Surely just allowing them 100 to 250 points per piece of DLC would have been a better idea than this? That way the Gamerscore scales with the amount of content released for a game in a more natural manner.

    I used to give a crap about achievements and the gamerscore then I realised that I was spending more time and effort focussed on trying to get the (sometimes ludicrously difficult and often missable) achievements than I was spending enjoying games.

  • Zomoniac #16 3 years ago

    Also, the upper limit for a boxed copy is still 1000 gamerpoints and 50 achievements.

    Unless you're The Orange Box.

  • GamesConnoisseur #17 3 years ago

    Sony set no such rules for trophies? Limits? If not then MS may be trying to catch up and ensure both X360 and PS3 have similar achievemens/trophies?

    Still I m one of the achievement whore but not yet an actual farmer, as too much work and just prefer to play as many games and enjoy unlocks whilst still interested in the said game! What I dont get is people going out of their way, and spending hours just to unlock a certain achievement when their interests had long since expired!

  • chessboxer #18 3 years ago

    @ GamesConnoisseur

    Sony did set out rules last year for trophies but I think they have been relaxed now that they are mandatory. I remember one of the initial rules was that the Platinum trophy could not be on a PSN game, but I think there are 2 PSN games now which offer a Platinum.

    There doesn't seem to be an upper limit on the number offered either as Bioshock has 66, RE5 has 61 and Burnout Paradise now has 80, although you only need to get the original trophies to get a Platinum (if trophies have been added via DLC).

  • Rpt81 #19 3 years ago

    Also, the upper limit for a boxed copy is still 1000 gamerpoints and 50 achievements.

    Unless you're The Orange Box.

    Or Guitar Hero 3.

  • mega7ech #20 3 years ago

    "I don't understand the points thing.

    It's more of a reflection of (a) money to spend on games and (b) time to spend playing them than (c) skill - but then maybe that was the idea all along..."

    I think the whole points thing is a pretty brilliant idea imo. Whether its called "achievement whoring" or whatever other daft name the internet calls it, I can honestly say Ive never had so much replay value out of my games as I have had since the arrival of gamerscore's on the 360. Yes some folk take it the extreme and think their higher score makes them all gaming-god like (kids mainly) but I think to most it just gives that feeling of "achievement" which can be very satisfying. Some achievements have made me go back and play some games in ways which I would never have done so before. So, for me at least, I dont think its always about just getting the points but completing a challenge thats been set - and then comparing games on a mates profile to see if hes managed it yet. Good competetive fun :)

  • ronuds #21 3 years ago

    Maybe they'll now raise the number of pts. you get for each? Seeing the little achievement message pop up and then seeing it was only for 5 pts is a high and low all at once.

  • Shakey_Jake33 #22 3 years ago

    I guess the previous 250 point limit on DLC explains why the DLC version of Tomb Raider Anniversary has less achievements than the retail disc.

  • beep #23 3 years ago

    Wasn't there a time when gamerscore points earned from getting achievements were going to enable you to spend those points in exchange for DLC? Or am I imagining things?

  • sjmlondon #24 3 years ago

    It's all about making money.

    Gamers like getting gamerpoints.

    Offering paid for download content for games is big money and expect it to increase dramatically over the next couple of years.

    Gamers are more likely to fork out for paid for dlc if there is an opportunity to rack up another 250 gamerpoints. Given developers can now offer an extra 750 points that equates to probably 3 * DLC for every game. Ching ching. Get your credit/debits cards out now.

    From my own perspective if I've paid for DLC on a certain game I'm less likely to sell the game on (dlc on its own if worthless without the original disc). This might also slow the market in second hand games sales on ebay etc where the original developers doesn't get a cut.

    The next logical step (probably next generation) is most games will be download only. No second hand market, more £££ for microsoft and the developers.


    Edited by 1 at 04/05/09 @ 20:45

  • BBIAJ #25 3 years ago

    Erm, The Watchmen has the usual XBLA amount of 200 GS IIRC (unless you're The Maw, or Pinball FX, to name but two). I should know, as I'm only one Achievement away from totaling the game, that one being for the speed run.

  • murphy1978 #26 3 years ago

    "Also, they wouldn't allow a 6-map pack, as it's too much in one DLC. "

    7 maps coming in the next Gears 2 DLC, no?