To move forward, you have to let some things go, and Microsoft is doing just that with the Xbox 360 Marketplace. July 29 is a sad day for gaming, as the digital storefront that served millions of players for nearly two decades is officially closing its doors.
The Xbox 360 Marketplace has given way to many great games, including Destiny and all its DLCs, Meteos Wars, and over other 1,000 titles but as the industry evolves, Microsoft has decided to discontinue support for the store, which certainly marks the end of an era for all those retro console buffs.
Microsoft Announced Xbox 360 Marketplace Closure A Year Ago
The closure of the Xbox 360 Marketplace is not surprising news. Microsoft announced the closure a year ago, giving retro console enthusiasts ample time to prepare for this sad moment in gaming history.
The announcement stated that as of July 29, 2024, Xbox would stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the store on the console and the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
Additionally, the Microsoft Movies & TV app will no longer function on the 360, which means TV and movie content will no longer be viewable on the console after the closure date.
Players who have purchased Xbox 360 games or DLC will still be able to play them on the original console as well as on the Xbox One and Series X/S, provided they are backward compatible.
This is fairly reminiscent of other retro consoles from other tech giants, including DS and Wii U platforms, and the same fate befell the PS3 when it transitioned to gift card-only purchases, making the store nearly unusable.
Xbox 360 Changed the Market Forever
The first version of the console was released in 2005. Although it was plagued by the infamous red ring of death, it still revolutionized the gaming industry. It set new standards in the industry which were soon followed by its competitors.
It was the first console to introduce achievements, which only motivated players to continue playing games until they fulfilled them all. The package also included headsets that were useful for Xbox Live, making a multiplayer experience feel like you are playing with others in the same room.
Furthermore, Xbox Live was a game-changer on its own as it was a superior online gaming platform to what was seen at the time, with features like party chat among others.
Additionally, the console could stream videos and music from a PC while it also allowed for DVDs to be played if connected via HDMI cables, and owners could also access video apps like YouTube, Hulu, and even Netflix.
The console was a full package and not just a gaming platform. This cemented its place in gaming history as a revolutionary device. Now, with the Marketplace shutting down and video streaming also going away, Xbox 360 will remain usable only for a handful of collectors and enthusiasts who have invested time and money in getting games before the official shutdown.
Some of the best games available on Xbox 360 included Gears of War 2, Read Dead Redemption, GTA V, and Bioshock among many others. What are your favorite games on the console that will be lost to time? Let us know in the comments below.
