After over 18 years of service, the Xbox 360 Digital Store is going to be closing. At the end of July 2024 Microsoft will send it downriver on a flaming boat of glory.
Alongside it will be the Microsoft Movies and TV apps, which will be shutting down on the 29th of July 2024.
While it is a sad moment for those of us who are still using our Xbox 360’s daily, it doesn’t mean that the Xbox itself will stop working. All games and content that has been purchased before then will still be playable, and can be re-downloaded if it’s no longer in your library after the store has closed down.
Online and multiplayer gaming will also remain as is and Microsoft will still maintain support for online gaming on Xbox 360 consoles.
All backwards compatible games from the Xbox 360 era will move over to the Xbox Series S|X store where they will still be available for purchase, but there are around 220 digital, Xbox 360 games that could be lost to the void forever.
VGC compiled a full list of the games that don’t have an Xbox 360 physical release and are not backwards compatible. It is worth noting that some of the games on the list do have remasters for newer gen consoles or are bundled with other physical releases.
Microsoft aims to shift their focus to the newer generation of consoles to give gamers a better gaming experience. They say “A lot has changed since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005. 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”.
Are you still gaming on your Xbox 360? Will this closure affect you or have you already upgraded to a different Xbox console? Let us know in the comments.