How the Xbox One was Finally Hacked: The Bliss Exploit Explained

Tools

• Pico (microcontroller (glitch board))
• Teensy (microcontroller (glitch board))
• MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transmitter)
• Soldering station (for precise soldering of tiny components)

Parts & materials

• Original VCR Xbox One (launch model (Xbox One S and X models are not confirmed to work with this exploit in its current form))

Steps

1. Step 1 · 04:17 in the video

   Obtain a microcontroller (Pico or Teensy) and program it to function as a glitch board.

   Tools: Pico or Teensy microcontroller

2. Step 2 · 04:26 in the video

   Set up a basic MOSFET on the North Bridge of the Xbox One.

   Tools: MOSFET

3. Step 3 · 04:44 in the video

   Remove tiny capacitors from the underside of the Xbox One logic board to ensure that the voltage drops cleanly for the exploit to work.

   ⚠ This operation requires advanced soldering skills and is not for the faint of heart.

   ⚠ Risk of damaging the Xbox One logic board.

Tips from the comments

• The historical lack of motivation for hacking the Xbox One stemmed from its x86-based platform and the availability of most exclusives on PC, making it easier to build a PC with similar specs for the same experience.
• Many users are keen on the exploit but plan to wait for a more polished and simplified modification process before attempting it themselves.
• There is a strong community desire for the mod to become much easier, faster, and more affordable, with hopes for readily available glitch chips on platforms like Amazon, especially for users in poorer countries.
• The current complexity of the hack, involving precise soldering and component removal, is perceived as too difficult for the average tinkerer.
• The community is actively working on replicating and refining the setup, with expectations that simplifications will emerge quickly. However, significant software development for homebrew is crucial, as the current Xbox One homebrew scene is considered limited compared to other consoles like the Wii.
• For Xbox 360s and Xbox Ones with dead disc drives, the board on the original disc drive (if not the source of the issue) can be swapped to a new disc drive with minimal effort to repair the console, despite the drives being code-locked.
• For proper emulation and reverse engineering, obtaining firmware and NAND dumps is critical to avoid 'sidekick type emulation' which often results in janky performance. Claims of 'unhackable' systems like Denuvo DRM have historically proven false.
• There is uncertainty regarding whether the full method and software for the exploit will be publicly released by the discoverer, and it will need to be significantly simplified for general modders to adopt.
• If the Xbox One S can also be modded, its low used price (around $60) makes it an attractive candidate for conversion into a 'Steam machine'.
• A key motivation for the exploit is the preservation of digital exclusives and DLC, such as Forza Horizon 2's Xbox One version, which are at risk of being lost to time.