Microsoft will close the Xbox 360 Store next year, making it impossible for players to purchase new games, DLC, or other content on that console. However, players will still be able to play all of the games and DLC they have already purchased.
When is the Xbox 360 Store closing?
The Xbox 360 Store will close on July 29, 2024. After this date, there will no longer be any way to purchase games and DLC from the Xbox 360 console, nor will players be able to get content from the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
All games and DLC purchased from the Xbox 360 Store before that date will remain playable on Xbox 360, as well as Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility. Even if a game has been deleted from the console’s storage device, it can be redownloaded from your purchase history.
Backward compatible Xbox 360 games can also still be purchased from the Xbox One Store, Xbox Series X|S Store, and Xbox.com after July 29. There are nearly 290 backward compatible games, although no more are expected to be added to that list following the last drop of more than 70 games back in 2021. This does mean that there are many titles that were released throughout the console’s 18-year history that will be more or less lost (or significantly harder to obtain) when the Xbox 360 Store closes, though.
Finally, the Microsoft Movies & TV app will also stop working on Xbox 360 consoles on July 29. All movies and TV already purchased on the Xbox 360 will be viewable in the app on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Content that is eligible for Movies Anywhere can also be viewed in the Movies Anywhere app or website.
Dave McCarthy, CVP Xbox Player Services, explained the reason for the closure is that “a lot has changed since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005. Technology has evolved, [and] expectations from players have shifted.” However, he goes on to say that “what has not changed is [Microsoft’s] commitment to preserving your ability to play the content you have already purchased on your preferred device, which means [Microsoft is] committed to supporting Xbox 360 gameplay for the foreseeable future.”
