The Xbox 360 has long been heralded as the best console Microsoft ever designed, with its dominance in the fiercely competitive console arena being significantly bolstered by the Xbox 360 store.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and as such, Microsoft is now preparing to shut down the Xbox 360 Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace next year. Starting on July 29, 2024 owners of the Xbox 360 console will be unable to access or purchase new Xbox 360 games, DLC, and other content from the store, as well as avatars from the Xbox 360 Marketplace. Additionally, the Microsoft Movies & TV app will no longer function on Xbox 360, which means TV and movie content will no longer be accessible on the Xbox 360 after July.
The silver lining to this disappointing cloud of news is that the closure of the iconic store will not affect the ability to play games and DLC that Xbox 360 owners have previously purchased. Whether you purchased the game digitally or have a physical disc, you can still play it on the Xbox 360 or the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles via backward compatibility.
If you happen to delete a game that you had purchased but wish to play it again, you’ll have the option to re-download it. Likewise, multiplayer games will not be affected, as saving progress on the cloud will still be an available option.
Microsoft’s decision to shut down the digital distribution platform that has been running for 18 years further fuels the debate about game preservation. Its rival Sony made a similar move in 2021 when it announced that it would shut down the PlayStation Store for the PS3, PSP, and PS Vita systems. When console manufacturers choose to shut down these platforms, hundreds of games exclusive to these stores effectively disappear, especially those without ports for new generation consoles.
