Games

Xbox 360 store shutdown after nearly 20 years

BBG News

As a long-time gamer who has fond memories of the Xbox 360 era, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and sadness as I write this. The news that Microsoft has officially shut down the Xbox 360 Marketplace is a hard pill to swallow. This console was a game-changer for me and many others in the gaming community, and the marketplace was an integral part of that experience.

I’m deeply saddened to share that Microsoft has officially closed the doors on the Xbox 360 Marketplace. As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel a pang of grief at the loss of this iconic console’s digital storefront. With it goes access to “hundreds” of games that were once available for purchase and download. The Video Game History Foundation recently announced the news on X, and I join the chorus of gamers mourning this significant loss in video game history.

2005 saw the launch of Xbox 360, marking the beginning of a new era for multiplayer gaming. As it approaches its near-20th year, the Xbox 360 Marketplace remains active, while the PlayStation 3 store continues as the last bastion of online services for this generation’s consoles. Interestingly, Nintendo ended its Wii Shop in 2019, but Sony Interactive Entertainment initially planned to shut down both their PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita storefronts, a decision they reconsidered following strong player protests.

Today marks the permanent closure of the Xbox 360 Marketplace, eliminating hundreds of games and DLC from circulation with no current means of retrieval, as stated by the Video Game History Foundation on their platform X. As we strive to address copyright issues for game preservation, in the meantime, we thought a cake might help ease the situation.

Effective today, the Xbox 360 Marketplace is permanently closing, removing hundreds of games and DLC from circulation, leaving no official means to acquire them. As we strive to amend copyright laws for video game preservation, a celebratory cake seems fitting in the meantime.

— Video Game History Foundation (@GameHistoryOrg) July 29, 2024

1. In the days leading up to its Xbox 360 Marketplace store shutdown, Microsoft slashed prices significantly on Xbox 360 games, a final chance for customers to buy digital Xbox 360 titles. The company has expanded its backward compatibility service to allow these older games to be played on more modern consoles like the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. However, there are several games that were exclusively released digitally and do not work on these newer systems, causing a significant issue for accessing them legally. Games bought prior to the store’s closure will remain accessible to those who possess (or in actuality, license) them.

1. Gamers are still congregating on social networks and discussion boards to bid farewell to the storefront and the games that won’t survive its shutdown. Major Nelson, a former Xbox executive recognized by the Xbox community as such, posted a heartfelt tribute to the console marketplace on X: “After nearly 19 years, it’s time for everything to conclude. We are now in the final hours (approximately) of the Xbox 360 Marketplace,” he penned. “It was an honor for me to manage all those thousands of marketplace sales and updates over the years. Thank you for enjoying yourself, playing fairly, and submitting feedback.”

RIP, Xbox 360 Marketplace. It’s been real.

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2024-07-29 23:19

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