Microsoft's Xbox 360 Stores Will Close Up Shop on July 29

Speaking of Xbox, the Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace are coming to a close later this month. From a report: Microsoft announced this last year and put an official end date of July 29, according to its official FAQ page. In case you didn't notice, the end of July is fast approaching. All of the games, DLC and any gaming tidbits for Microsoft's second generation console won't be available to purchase or download on the Xbox 360 console. Your games and movie purchases are still safe, however, if you've got any throwback titles on your Xbox One or Series X/S console. You can also still watch your purchased movies and shows on Windows 10 and 11 devices.

Safe

[AmiMoJo]

"Safe" except you can't back them up, at least not without hacking your console. Well, I suppose there is no reason not to hack it now, it's not like you can use it online with Microsoft services or buy stuff from them anymore.

Re:

[codebase7]

Actually, if you have a 360 hard drive, it's accessible under Linux. Where you can just copy over all of the files as the filesystem isn't encrypted. (If you have one of the Arcade models, the HDD can be opened with a security bit to get at the standard laptop SATA connectors hidden within.)

Fun fact, you can even use the XBox360 to dump disc based games to the HDD, and then copy those over too for use with something like Xenia [github.com].

TL;DR: The XBox 360 is actually the easiest console to back up as long as you

Re:

[codebase7]

I forgot to mention, dumping XBox360 disc-based games to the console's HDD is an official feature of the 360. It can be done by hitting X on the dashboard and hitting "install". No mods or hacks required.

Re:

[SuiteSisterMary]

I think the Vita might have been easier, as there was a Sony approved desktop app that could download and backup the files.

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[Anubis IV]

Back when Wii Points were rebranded as Nintendo Points, Wii Points gift cards were selling for half off or less at retail, so I was able to pick up hundreds of dollars worth of classic and indie games at a pittance. Unfortunately, those games were all stuck on my Nintendo Wii once I bought them, which wasn't a problem...until my wife discovered a few days ago that the video signal from the Wii was starting to fail (screen would intermittently go black, sometimes for minutes at a time). She was worried, figu

Re:

[im_thatoneguy]

No need to back them up. Just keep downloading them from Xbox.

you will still be able to play and re-download previously purchased content and connect with friends.

The forced obsolescence continues

[xack]

In the future, when discless consoles are the only option available, you will have no choice but to throw your console away. Say goodbye to future generations of retro games. It will cost Microsoft a minuscule fraction of the billions it makes each year to keep the store going, they just want you to buy a Series X instead.

Re:The forced obsolescence continues

[im_thatoneguy]

Microsoft: "Don't worry, you can still buy Xbox 360 games through the Website or an Xbox One/X/S. You can also continue to download your games to your Xbox 360 and you can keep playing online with matchmaking. Literally the only thing you can't do anymore is buy new games through the Xbox 360 console."
Slashdot: "OMG MICROSOFT IS BRICKING MY XBOX 360!! Something something late stage capitalism!"

But ...

[fahrbot-bot]

Speaking of Xbox, ...

Were we?

legalized theft

[zeiche]

i have a huge XBLA library, including tons of DLC. i feel like microsoft is stealing my content.

Re:

[quonset]

Nope, not stealing. You have your copy and they have their copy. Nothing has been taken.

Cannot download?

[h0m3rs1mps0n]

The previous story said youâ(TM)d still be able to download previously purchased games.. this one seems to contradict that. Whatâ(TM)s the actual story here? This is a very important distinction!

No, not my Xbox 360 Wishlist!

[devious_malcontent]

I still buy Xbox 360 games, occasionally, with the points I get from the Microsoft rewards program, but that was nerfed earlier this year or maybe late last year, so the writing was on the wall for that as well.

[I had a script that would rack up the points lol, I'd get enough to buy a game once every three months or so, it was great!]

I own the majority of my Xbox 360 games as physical titles, but I've been using the points to rebuy titles I mostly have or ones I missed out on out of convenience, I just wish

if i buy a huge pile of discount games...

[XO]

... can i store them like on a USB disk attached to the Xbox 360? Or what? like, what's the process for really taking advantage of the fact that they've introduced huge discounts to almost the entire store?

or will the download servers still live on, even after the store closes?