Microsoft has recently made the decision to shut down Xbox 360's online store and marketplace next year. It comes as the company focuses more on the newer Xbox models like the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S.
Xbox 360 Online Store and Marketplace to Come to an End in 2024
According to Channel News Asia, Microsoft announced on Thursday that it would officially close the Xbox 360's online store and marketplace in 2024. The company is now trying to focus on its Game Pass subscription service on top of its newer consoles.
However, Microsoft would still allow its players to enjoy the titles they had already purchased for the Xbox 360. It will include all the games compatible with the 360 and older titles compatible with the console.
"We know that many of you have fond memories of playing games on Xbox 360, and we want to make sure that you can continue to enjoy those games for years to come. That's why we're committed to supporting Xbox 360 gameplay for the foreseeable future," Dave McCarthy, CVP of Xbox Player Services, said in a statement.
MS Power User reported that the console was launched 18 years ago, and finally, Microsoft is ending its long-standing digital distribution platform next year. The company announced that Xbox 360 Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace will be shut down on July 29, 2024.
Xbox Console Released in 2005, but Microsoft Halted Production in 2016
An announcement by Microsoft said that much has changed since the Xbox 360 was released in 2005, especially regarding the evolution of technology and players' expectations.
With that, the company noted that they are more focused on improving the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, ensuring that they provide the best experience to players.
Microsoft had already halted the production of the Xbox 360 way back in 2016, or about seven years ago. After a year, the company revealed the Xbox Game Pass.
The Xbox Game Pass was announced as the company's subscription gaming service, accessible through Microsoft's Windows platforms. This service had very little support for the older Xbox 360 models.
Microsoft Also Removed Support for the Movies & TV App on Older Consoles
Aside from removing the online store and marketplace, Microsoft would also end the support for the Movies & TV app on older consoles. That means the service would no longer be available and cannot be accessed on older models like the Xbox 360.
Despite Microsoft ending this feature for the Xbox 360, the console had legendary status in the gaming world because of how the game was able to achieve new heights, showing how massive the world of video games can be.
Xbox 360 Is Still the All-Time Best-Selling Gaming Console
The Xbox 360 is still regarded as the all-time best-selling gaming console, which was pitted against the PlayStation 3 by its rival, Sony. Microsoft was able to sell 84 million units of Xbox 360 until 2014.
After the Xbox 360, Microsoft released the Xbox One, followed by the newer models, the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S.
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