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31st March 2024
How to hack your Xbox360 and play any game you want – RGH3 mod
The Xbox 360 is a great console to own, even now in 2024. It was launched in 2005 and sold for over 10 years building up a fantastic library of top class games during its lifespan.
Now you can pick one up on the second hand market for around £50 or $50 complete with controllers, and if you can get one with the unique Kinect sensor you’re in for a whole lot of fun.
But the best thing about the Xbox 360 is that you can hack it. This then lets you install custom software that allows you to install games from backup ISO files. So if you can get hold of a game ISO you can play it without needing the original DVD.
Naturally you do need to be aware of copyright regulations in your region, but pretty much any game ever written for the console is out there for you to find and download.
So modding the Xbox does require you to take the machine apart and make a few wiring additions to the motherboard, but these are fairly straightforward and I’ll be taking you through the process in this video. You’ll also need a NAND programmer but we can save on the £50 outlay for that by making one from a Raspberry Pi Pico for only £5.
So why not grab yourself an Xbox 360 and follow me through as we turn it into an RGH3 modded console.
The Reset Glitch Hack – RGH3
As a bit of background the RGH or Reset Glitch Hack exploits a vulnerability in the bootloader sequence in the Xbox. A hacker called GliGli discovered that if you hit the processor with a reset pulse at precisely the right time, and we are talking nanosecond timing here, the bootloader hash check which tests to make sure it’s running official code fails and reports back a valid response no matter what software has been installed. This means that our hack code is allowed to run and take over the console.
Previously this required a special glitch chip to be installed onto the motherboard but it was a bit hit and miss about the signal timing. The RGH3 version does away with the glitch chip and uses one of the motherboard’s own timing signals to very reliably glitch the processor, especially on Xbox 360 S, or Slim, versions. So that’s the version I’m recommending you buy rather than the older 360 Phat or newer 360 E.
How to Hack Your XBox 360 S with the RGH3 Mod
Please have a look at the video above as that will guide you through the process step by step. My best advice is to watch each section first so you know what you’re doing and then follow through each stage. I strongly recommend you buy an X Clamp removal tool. This will make the disassembly process soooo much easier and remove the risk of damaging your case and motherboard.
The images below will help you identify the various solder points for the RGH3 mod. Make sure you double and triple check before soldering your wires to the board. Click any image to enlarge it.
General locations of points on the bottom of the motherboard
PLL_BYPASS location
SMC_PLL location
POST location
SMC_POST location
Pico Flasher connections
Links
Where to download Xbox 360 games from… Don’t forget to check the copyright laws in your region before downloading any software.
Vimm’s Lair – https://vimm.net/vault/Xbox360
Internet Archive – https://archive.org/search?query=xbox+360+iso
https://github.com/Octal450/J-Runner-with-Extras
https://github.com/Octal450/J-Runner-with-Extras/releases/tag/V3.3.0-r3
XEXMenu
https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:XeXmenu
DashLaunch
https://www.mediafire.com/file/39z8ntp7j9dky6x/dash_launch_v3.21.zip/file
https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:DashLaunch
Aurora
http://phoenix.xboxunity.net/#/news
https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox_360:Aurora
360MPGui
https://retrohacked.com/files/file/2-360mpgui/
Equipment you’ll need
Xbox360 clamp removal tool – https://amzn.to/49OC2iM
Torx screwdriver set – https://amzn.to/3P8ludA
Wire wrapping wire – https://amzn.to/49vsKZ4
Raspberry Pi Pico – https://amzn.to/48yCdNW
Hookup wires – https://amzn.to/3P7BBbg
Breadboard – https://amzn.to/3UVTXjc
Soldering Equipment similar to the ones I use
Digital soldering stations – https://amzn.to/3TcztBu
Solder sucker – https://amzn.to/3TcztBu
Electronics pliers sets – https://amzn.to/3IdMkNB
Flux paste in syringe – https://amzn.to/42ZT4bd
Copper braid – https://amzn.to/49SUeHF
Soldering mat – https://amzn.to/49sKLXZ
Lead free solder – https://amzn.to/3wxloWp
Lead based solder – https://amzn.to/48Cygrs
Wire wrapping wire – https://amzn.to/49vsKZ4
