- Xbox officially ends support for the Xbox 360 Marketplace after 19 years.
- The Xbox 360 Marketplace was launched in November 2005.
- The closure marks a significant milestone in Xbox history.
- This does not affect the Microsoft Store or later model marketplaces.
Microsoft has officially ended support for the Xbox 360 Marketplace, marking the end of an era for the beloved console’s digital storefront.
Xbox 360 Marketplace closes for good today
First launched in November 2005 alongside the Xbox 360 console, the Marketplace has been a cornerstone of the Xbox gaming experience for nearly two decades.
The digital distribution platform allowed users to purchase and download games, DLC, and other entertainment content, becoming a significant part of the gaming community’s daily routine.
The Xbox 360, a revolutionary console in its time, introduced the Xbox Live Marketplace, later renamed the Xbox Games Store.
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This service provided gamers with a convenient way to access a wide range of digital content, from Xbox Live Arcade games and full Xbox 360 titles to game add-ons, demos, gamer pictures, and dashboard themes.
The Marketplace was a pioneer in the digital distribution of video games, setting a standard for future consoles.
Initially, the Xbox One also utilised the Xbox Games Store when it launched in 2013.
However, in 2018, the Xbox Games Store was replaced by the Microsoft Store, which became the standard digital storefront for all Windows 10 devices.
This transition continued with the Xbox Series X/S consoles, which also use the Microsoft Store for digital purchases.
Despite the closure of the Xbox 360 Marketplace, Xbox 360 titles that are backward-compatible will remain available for purchase on the Microsoft Store for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
This ensures that players can continue to enjoy their favourite Xbox 360 games on newer consoles.
In August 2023, Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 Marketplace would be shutting down on 29 July 2024.
The decision to sunset the Marketplace comes as part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to streamline its digital services and focus on newer platforms.
As of today, Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace.
