| Function | Description | |----------|-------------| | Save Game Modding | Open save files (.dat, .sav, etc.) with built-in editors or external plugins; modify stats, currencies, items, etc. | | Re-signing / Rehashing | Take any game save from one profile and re-sign it to work with a different profile or console. | | Device Explorer | Navigate Xbox 360 USB drives or extracted hard drive content; drag-and-drop files. | | Profile Tool | Extract/modify gamertag info, avatar data, and even unlock achievements (high risk). | | STFS Package Explorer | Open Xbox 360 STFS containers (e.g., Game Saves, DLC, Title Updates). | | Content Downloader | (Legacy) Could fetch title updates and some game content from online databases (now partially broken). |

You could extract your Gamertag, fix a "Corrupted Profile" error (a common nightmare for 360 owners), or inject custom gamer pictures that weren’t available in the Xbox marketplace. Many avatar awards and rare pictures were unlocked this way.

| Tool | Best For | |------|-----------| | Modio | Simple save resigning | | Le Fluffie | Advanced STFS editing | | USBXTAFGUI | Extracting content from USB | | Velocity (360MP) | Modern resigner |

For advanced modding (system-level), you’d need RGH/JTAG hardware mods – Horizon is only for save editing.

Horizon is a Windows-based PC application designed to modify, resign, and rehash Xbox 360 game saves, profiles, and other content. It gained popularity during the Xbox 360’s prime (late 2000s–mid 2010s) for allowing users to edit game saves to unlock achievements, add infinite ammo, max out currencies, or even modify their Xbox profile’s gamerscore and avatar.

It was developed by XboxMB (now mostly defunct) and became one of the most user-friendly save editors for modding on retail (non-jailbroken) Xbox 360 consoles.

Let’s walk through a classic example: downloading a max-money save for Borderlands 2.

What you need:

Step 1 – Prepare the USB Drive Plug the USB into your Xbox 360 → Go to Settings → Storage → Format USB (choose "Configure now"). This creates the hidden Xbox 360 partition.

Step 2 – Copy Your Profile to USB In Xbox 360 storage, move your Gamertag profile (usually the first item) to the USB drive. You only need to do this once—Horizon will read the profile ID from the USB.

Step 3 – Connect USB to PC & Launch Horizon Open Horizon as Admin. It should auto-detect the USB. Click "Device Explorer" – you’ll see Content/ and Data/ folders. Navigate to Content/[Your Profile ID]/[Game Title ID]/ – that’s where saves live.

Step 4 – Inject the Modded Save Download a savegame.dat or Save.sav from a trusted source (e.g., Nexus Mods’ Xbox 360 section). In Horizon, click "File" → "Open" → select the downloaded save. Horizon will show details: Console ID, Profile ID, and Title ID.

Step 5 – Rehash & Resign Click the "Rehash & Resign" button (looks like a refresh symbol). Horizon will overwrite the IDs with those from your USB drive’s profile. Then click "Save to Device" – choose your USB path and overwrite the existing save.

Step 6 – Move Back to Xbox 360 Safely eject USB from PC. Plug into Xbox 360, launch the game, and load that save slot. Done! No modchip required.

This is the million-dollar question. Short answer: Yes, if you’re careless.

Microsoft’s Xbox Live enforcement team actively scans for:

However, offline use is safe. If you do the following, the risk is near zero:

Thousands of users in the /r/Xbox360 subreddit still use Horizon to this day for single-player games like Fallout: New Vegas or Mass Effect 2 without any bans. The key is moderation.

❌ Microsoft bans – Using modded saves or unlocking achievements online can result in a profile or console ban from Xbox Live.
❌ Outdated – Last updated around 2014. Many game mods no longer work with newer title updates.
❌ Server issues – The mod marketplace and profile lookup features are mostly dead.
❌ Windows only – No Mac or Linux version (though may work via Wine).
❌ Potential malware – Old versions from unofficial sources may contain viruses.
❌ No support – Developer is inactive; forums are ghost towns.