I see trouble brewing in Xbox land. Again.

Last week, Game Guy mentioned the “E74″ technical issue with Xbox 360 that was raised by Joystiq and others. The issue, defined by Microsoft as a kind of hardware failure and so named for the E74 code that pops up on the screen as a result, seemed to spike after installation of the New Xbox Experience dashboard update last fall.

Well now, Seattle Post-Intelligencer blogger Jacob Metcalf says he clarified Microsoft’s stance on repairs as less comprehensive than the company allowed for the “red ring of death.” Whereas RROD spurred a three-year warranty extension regardless of when or where the Xbox was purchased, E74 sufferers can win remuneration on repairs only if the console is covered under the basic one-year warranty.

But if Microsoft is at fault — and the binge of breakages around NXE’s debut suggests as much — how can that policy be fair? Or last?

I predict an uprising of sorts should E74 complaints increase and the warranty protection doesn’t. Because after years of RROD travails and amazing patience among Xbox lovers in dealing with them, it’s becoming much harder to forgive or forget Xbox’s foibles.