In an end-of-era move, as the digital world speeds ahead, Microsoft has decided to wave goodbye to a cherished artifact. On Thursday, the tech juggernaut announced its plan to sunset the online store and marketplace for the Xbox 360 by the coming year. The focus has now decisively shifted to its latest consoles and the ever-evolving Game Pass subscription service.
Mark your calendars, gamers: July 29, 2024. That’s the day the Xbox 360 Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace will go offline. From that day onward, loyalists of this vintage console will face a limitation. They won’t be able to buy or download new games through these platforms. This update came straight from an official post on the Xbox website.
However, it’s not all gloom and doom. Microsoft is ensuring that the gaming spirit remains alive, at least in some form. Players will retain the ability to enjoy games they’ve previously purchased on Xbox 360. Moreover, they can indulge in older titles that the console supports. It’s Microsoft’s nod to the nostalgic connection many share with this iconic piece of tech.
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Adding to these changes, Microsoft is stripping the Xbox 360 of the Movies & TV app. A reminder that the focus is clearly shifting towards the company’s newer ventures and offerings.
The Xbox 360 isn’t just any console. It stands tall in the annals of gaming history, going toe-to-toe with heavyweight competitors like Sony’s PlayStation 3. Before Microsoft took a pause in announcing its sales post-2014, the Xbox 360 had made its mark. It had raked in sales of approximately 84 million units. A halt in sales reporting coincided with the launch of its successor, the Xbox One, marking the beginning of a new chapter.
While the decision to shut down the online portals for Xbox 360 might seem inevitable in the fast-paced world of technology, it’s also a reminder. A reminder of the strides gaming has taken over the years and the relentless march of progress. The Xbox 360 had its time in the sun, and as the sunset approaches, Microsoft assures that its legacy will live on in the games and memories it helped create.
This news is based on information from Marketing Interactive.
