Although there are opinions for every taste, cI believe there is a consensus that the Xbox 360 is Microsoft’s best console. And no, I’m not forgetting the users who suffered the famous red circle of death, as well as problems with some optical drives, some hardware failures that forced Microsoft to launch a global program to extend warranties and exchange consoles with problems

The launch was somewhat marred by these incidents, but once they were fixed, the Xbox 360 began to show its full potential. some of the best titles of this generation started to arrive plus, Sony was slow and clumsy in launching the PlayStation 3, leaving Microsoft with a lot more room. As a result, history began to be written with Microsoft overtaking Sony in a market that had been dominated for years by the Japanese multinational. A story that was abruptly and possibly irrevocably interrupted by the Xbox One fiasco.

Be that as it may, the Xbox 360 is actually not only fondly remembered by many of its users it is still valid today and a very economical option to continue enjoying the great classics of this generation. And I say that knowingly because I still turn mine on from time to time to continue the eternal game of Fable II that I started more years ago than I could have imagined at the time.

It seems like yesterday to some, but it was launched at the end of 2005, almost 18 years ago and despite our regrets, all life cycles have a beginning and an end. So as we can read on the official blog, The Xbox 360 digital store will shut down in July 2024, when the console will also lose access to the Microsoft Movies & TV app.which will stop working on those consoles, so users who purchased content on it will no longer be able to view it on their 360.

Microsoft specifies that, yes, while it will no longer be possible to purchase games and expansions, Yes, after that it will still be possible to download and install games that users have purchased up to that date and, of course, it will also be possible to continue playing games already installed, as well as games that can be purchased later in physical format. In other words, in relation to the games, the only thing that changes is that it will no longer be possible to buy them.

The case of movie and TV content is different. In order to access them, users will have to opt for other platforms, either the later-gen Xbox (One or Series) or Windows PC, where they will of course continue to be available. I understand that this decision was made for security reasons, but I think Microsoft would be better off with a similar approach that they have taken with games, i.e. not allowing new purchases but keeping access to existing ones.

In any case, the fact that the stores have remained active on the Xbox 2360 for so many years, and that they will be active for one more year, since that is practically what is left until the complete closure, shows us that Microsoft has maintained a remarkable commitment to the user community, yes, but also that we are talking about a console that one way or another it has managed to remain valid until today, although it may seem unbelievable.

Images: Evan-Amos