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How to get your replacement Xbox 360

Discs unreadable? Then you're in luck.

Microsoft has confirmed reports that some Xbox 360 consoles are not compatible with its new Xbox 360 firmware upgrade, and advised those affected to get in touch.

"Following a recent update to our system software, we have become aware of an issue that is preventing a very small number of Xbox 360 owners from playing retail game discs," Microsoft said.

"This issue manifests itself a as a unique 'disc unreadable' or 'disc unsupported' error on the screen. We are also able to detect this issue over Xbox Live and are proactively reaching out to customers that may be impacted to replace their console."

The console manufacturer urged those having problems to get in touch at www.xbox.com/support/contact "so we can verify if the console has been impacted".

Microsoft will replace borked machines with a brand new Xbox 360 S with 250GB hard drive.

The new firmware is thought to prepare the Xbox 360 for use with the new XGD3 disc standard, which adds 1GB of useable data to 360 DVDs.

Digital Foundry this morning reported that the firmware combats pirated software.