Microsoft knew about Xbox 360 disc scratching?

Comments from a Microsoft employee have revealed that the company may have known that the design of the Xbox 360 would damage game discs from before the console was even launched, but chose to continue with the design anyway.

The comments apparently emerged as part of a class action lawsuit in the US which is focusing on the damage done to Xbox 360 discs by the console drive itself.

The testimony in question comes from Microsoft Program Manager Hiroo Umeno, who says that Microsoft was well aware that game discs could be scratched when the console is repositioned.

"This is ... information that we as a team, [the] optical disc drive team, knew about. When we first discovered the problem in September or October, when we got a first report of disc movement, we knew this is what’s causing the problem," said Umero according to Ars Technica.

Apparently at least three different solutions were put forward by Umeno's team, but each of them was rejected. Microsoft ruled out slowing down the speed of the drive to avoid lengthened load times and would not consider adding bumpers to the disc drive (which is routine in other consumer drives) as it would be too expensive at 25p per console.

Further reading of the lawsuit reveals that Microsoft has had more than 55,000 complaints about scratched discs as of April this year. Have you been affected? Let us know in the forums.