If your game console of choice is the aging Xbox 360, we have bad news: Microsoft will shut down the digital Xbox 360 Store next July.
The company is pulling the plug on July 29, 2024. This means owners of the console won’t be able to purchase games and DLC, or download other content, such as game trials or avatars, from either the Xbox 360 Store or the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
“Related to this change, the Microsoft Movies & TV app will no longer function on Xbox 360, which means TV and movie content will no longer be viewable on your Xbox 360 after July 29th, 2024,” Microsoft said in the announcement.
The good news is that any games or DLC you already bought from the store will remain playable on the 18-year-old console, in addition to the newer Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S hardware. “If you’ve deleted a game that you have purchased, but you want to play again, you’ll still be able to re-download it,” the company added.
Owners will also have the next 11 months to buy any remaining games from the store before it finally shuts down. Multiplayer support for Xbox 360 games is unaffected.
Microsoft didn’t offer a clear explanation on why it’s retiring the Xbox 360 Store, but signaled it's about focusing on current-generation hardware. “Technology has evolved, expectations from players have shifted, and we are focused on making Xbox Series X|S the best place to play now and in the future,” it says.
Despite its age, the Xbox 360 is arguably Microsoft’s most successful entry in the Xbox line, becoming a platform for games such as Halo 3, Gears of War, and Mass Effect. Hence, some consumers have kept their Xbox 360 hanging around. In the announcement, Microsoft even says: "We’re thrilled so many fans keep playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360."
But even though the Xbox 360 Store is retiring, Microsoft says “hundreds” of Xbox 360 games will still remain for sale on the digital stores for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. “We believe in celebrating gaming’s rich history and have worked hard to preserve as many games as possible through our backward-compatibility program,” the company adds.
Microsoft created a support document with more information on the upcoming change.
