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Microsoft has announced it will be taking the Xbox 360 storefront offline next year.
Microsoft announced today that it plans to shut down the Xbox 360 in 2024, an extremely disappointing move that’s bad for game preservation.
The Xbox 360 Store, also known as the Xbox Live Marketplace, has been present on Microsoft’s second game console in some form ever since it launched in 2005. In recent years, storefront shut down for older systems have become more common. The 3DS and Wii U eShops went offline in March despite player anger, while Sony planned to shut down the PS3, PSP, and PS Vita storefronts in 2021 before reversing that decision because of the backlash. Regardless, the loss of any storefront is a dour move for the video game industry, as some games are exclusively available to them and will be lost forever when the store goes offline.
Since the Xbox 360 has been around for so long, it’s a given that its many owners have amassed a rather large collection of content: including games, DLC, and other entertainment. Microsoft has offered assurances that, while no new content can be purchased on the 360 Marketplace, anything users have already bought will still be usable.
Microsoft announced on the Xbox Wire news blog that, in the summer of 2024, it will officially be closing down the Xbox 360’s digital storefront. Starting on July 29, 2024, both the in-console Xbox 360 store, as well as the Xbox 360 Marketplace companion website, will become inaccessible. Users will no longer be able to purchase digital games or DLC content on the Xbox 360.
Additionally, the Xbox Movies & TV app will end operations as well, meaning that users won’t be able to watch TV or movies on their Xbox 360 consoles. Until the store goes down, users can still make purchases as normal.
An Xbox Wire post explains that the Xbox 360 store will shut down on July 29, 2024. After that date, players will no longer be able to purchase games, DLC, movies, or TV shows from the Xbox 360 Store or use the Microsoft Movies & TV app. Essentially, you won’t be able to buy new things or watch movies and TV shows on your system after July 29, 2024.
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