The Xbox 360 Is Officially Dead
Microsoft is officially saying goodbye to the Xbox 360, with the company announcing that they will be halting production on the console after ten-and-a-half years on the market.
Making the announcement on Xbox Wire, Microsofts Phil Spencer wrote about the decision to end the consoles successful run. The Xbox 360 has sold more 78 million units worldwide since its initial release in November 2005 and helped Microsoft gain significant market share in the last console generation.
Xbox 360 means a lot to everyone in Microsoft, Spencer writes. And while weve had an amazing run, the realities of manufacturing a product over a decade old are starting to creep up on us. Which is why we have made the decision to stop manufacturing new Xbox 360 consoles. We will continue to sell existing inventory of Xbox 360 consoles, with availability varying by country.
Xbox 360 owners need not panic, as Spencer confirmed that Xbox Live will remain active on the console, as will its various stores and other online services.
Farewell Xbox 360 your fantastic games lineup will live on in our Xbox Ones thanks to backwards compatibility. At least well always have the Red Rings of Deaon second thought, lets try and forget about all that.
Xbox 360 Games Leaving Games With Gold
In case youre not familiar, Games with Gold is part of the paid Xbox Live Gold membership. This grants you downloadable games each month at no additional charge.
For the past several years, these have been two free Xbox One titles, plus two Xbox 360 games . All Games with Gold Xbox 360 titles since late 2015 have been backward-compatible with Xbox One and Series X|S.
However, starting October 1, 2022, Microsoft will no longer provide Xbox 360 games with this program. In an email to subscribers, the company stated the following:
We have reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalog however, Games with Gold will continue to include exciting Xbox One titles and exclusive savings each month.
While the exact details are unknown, it seems that Microsoft has either run into licensing issues with Xbox 360 titles, or that not enough games are backward-compatible with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
The good news is that any Xbox 360 Games with Gold titles youve claimed in the past are yours to keep forever, even if your subscription lapses. Meanwhile, Xbox One and Series X|S titles are no longer available if you cancel your Xbox Live subscription.
Xbox Games With Gold Will No Longer Offer Xbox 360 Titles Later This Year
Microsoft has announced that later this year, Xbox Games with Gold will no longer include Xbox 360 titles.
Earlier this week, Microsoft sent out an email to Xbox Live Gold members notifying them that from October 1, there will be no Xbox 360 games included in the monthly offering of ‘free’ games. “We have reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalogue however, Games with Gold will continue to include exciting Xbox One titles and exclusive savings each month,” reads the email.
The email does note that this will have no effect on any Xbox 360 titles you might have downloaded before that point, and that any 360 titles you have redeemed while subscribed will be yours to keep regardless if you continue your subscription.
This honestly doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering most 360 titles that were included with Gold haven’t been high profile games in more recent years. There don’t seem to be any plans to offer more Xbox One/ Series X games in place of the 360 games, but that honestly isn’t much of a problem.
The main thing you’re paying for is the ability to play games online . But when Microsoft is obviously continuing to push the arguable treasure trove that is Game Pass, a couple of 360 titles that you’re probably never going to play won’t go amiss.
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Xbox 360 Games Will No Longer Be Part Of Xbox Games With Gold In October
Microsoft is planning to remove Xbox 360 games from its monthly Games with Gold offer in October. The software maker has started emailing Xbox Live Gold subscribers to warn them of the change, noting that the company has reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalogue.
Games with Gold is a monthly benefit for subscribers of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft hand picks free games each month, and all Xbox 360 titles are playable on the latest Xbox Series X / S consoles and Xbox One.
Microsofts Xbox backward compatibility program briefly returned with 76 new games last year, but the company made it clear it had reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing, legal and technical constraints. That would explain why it has now reached the limit on new Xbox 360 titles for Games with Gold.
Youll only get free Xbox One games from October
If youve already downloaded or redeemed Xbox 360 games through Games with Gold, this change wont impact those titles. This just means starting October 1st, Microsoft wont be adding any additional Xbox 360 titles to the Games with Gold offering.
Heres the full email from Microsoft to Xbox Live Gold subscribers:
Can I Really Play Xbox Games On Phones And Tablets
Yes, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members currently have access to the beta version of Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service, which lets them play cloud-based Xbox games on Android devices. The games are streamed in real-time to the devices via an app. And starting April 20, some Ultimate members will be invited to begin testing a limited beta of Cloud Gaming on Windows 10 PCs, iPhones and iPads, streamed via web browsers.
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What Comes With A Free Xbox Network Account
When you register your Xbox Network account, you’ll choose a nickname , which is how you will be known to other people in any games you play. You can have friends lists to keep in touch with real-life friends or new people you meet online you like to play with.
The free Xbox Network service gives you access to voice chat as well as the Xbox Marketplace. You can’t play most Xbox games online without a Gold subscription, but online multiplayer is available for free-to-play games. You can use all of the various video apps like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Amazon Prime as well.
That said, you don’t need an Xbox game console to take advantage of the Xbox Network. Since Microsoft also makes Windows, your Xbox Network account will automatically integrate with many PC games. That way, you can share your achievements and utilize other social features to interact with fellow gamers.
How To Download Xbox 360 Games With Gold Before They Disappear
If you’re an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you won’t be able to download Xbox 360 games soon. Here’s what you should know.
If youre an Xbox Live Gold member, your subscription will soon drop in value. Microsoft has announced that Xbox 360 games will soon no longer be included in the Games with Gold program.
Lets look over the details of this announcement to learn how it affects you, then well see how to claim the final Xbox 360 titles on offer.
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Cyrix Bannedbanned 2228 Posts Joined 176 Years Ago
Posted 28 October 2006 – 04:25 AM
Just throwing in my two cents…I had an old 3-month card from an Xbox Live kit and it worked fine on the 360. Also, this account did not exist on an original Xbox.After that work, I attempted to use one of the old 2-month trial codes but that didn’t work.So I’ll be on the lookout for cheap Xbox Live kits now!
Does Xbox Live Still Work On Xbox 360 2021
Youll still need an Xbox Live Gold subscription for an Xbox 360, though. Microsoft is dropping Xbox Live branding, referring to the set of software and services as simply the Xbox network now.
Is Xbox 360 servers still up 2022?
Yes, Xbox 360 Live still works in 2022. The service is subscription-based and allows gamers to play online with friends, access exclusive content, and more. While the console is no longer being manufactured, it is still supported by Microsoft and many games are still being released for it.
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How Much Is An Xbox Network Subscription
The basic Xbox Network subscription is free. Anyone can sign up for an Xbox Network account. If you want more perks and features, you’ll need to purchase a Gold account subscription.
Accessing the Xbox Network on the original Xbox console is no longer available. To use the Xbox Network, you must have an Xbox 360, Xbox One, or X Series as well as a broadband internet service provider.
How Do You Get Your Xbox 360 To Connect To Xbox Live
Step 1: Thank you for visiting the Xbox 360 Connection ErrorSolution website.
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Microsoft Xbox 360 Has Been Officially Discontinued
In a post on Xbox Wire, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, wrote that Microsoft has decided to stop the manufacture of the Microsoft Xbox 360 game console.
The Xbox 360 turned 10 years old in November 2015 and has helped Microsoft make a mark in the gaming industry. The Xbox 360 gave birth to games such as Gears of War, and brought technologies such as the Kinect to the world.
The Xbox 360 helped redefine an entire generation of gaming at Microsoft. I am incredibly proud of all of the work and dedication that went into development of the Xbox 360 hardware, services and games portfolio over the last decade. And Im grateful to the fans for their continued passion and support.
Because the console is now over 10 years old, it is getting harder for Microsoft to keep manufacturing it. Therefore, the company has decided to stop manufacturing the Xbox 360. Existing stock of the console will be continued to be sold till theyre all gone.
Those whore still using the Xbox 360 and plan on buying one, will continue to receive support from Microsoft. Owners of the console will still receive Xbox Live services, including online multiplayer games, access to apps, Games with Gold, and Deals with Gold. Xbox Live servers will remain online allowing 360 owners to continue play games.
Xbox One owners can play Xbox 360 games using Xbox One Backward Compatibility for free. With that, the Head of Xbox thanked all gamers, game publishers and developers.
Fewer Games With Gold
While its reasonable for Microsoft to stop providing free games for a system thats over 15 years old, it does make Xbox Live gold less attractive of a package. In the coming months, well learn whether Microsoft plans to replace those two monthly titles with newer Xbox games, or if subscribers will be limited to two titles.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the console divide, Sony stopped providing PS3 and PS Vita titles in 2019, though thats different since the PS4 isnt backward-compatible with PS3 games.
Thankfully, many Xbox 360 games are playable on modern Xbox consoles, so these classics are still accessible. You can enjoy lots of them with an Xbox Game Pass subscription thats just one of the many reasons this service is a must-have for Xbox gamers.
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How To Purchase An Xbox Live Gold Subscription
You don’t necessarily need a credit card to sign up for an Xbox Live Gold subscription. You can use one, but you can also buy Xbox Gift Cards or Gold subscription cards at retailers. Purchase a Gold subscription card at a retailer and then enter the code on your Xbox. You can also purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription from the official Xbox Network website and through your Xbox console.
For security protection, it’s better to buy Xbox Gift Cards and Gold Subscription cards at retailers instead of using a credit card online.
What Is The Xbox Live Gold Membership
Xbox Live Gold is a subscription-based service that can be purchased in one month, three month, and one-year periods. Xbox Live Gold subscriptions are $59.99 for 12 months, $24.99 for three months, and $9.99 for one month.
The paid Xbox Live Gold service gives you all of the free features along with the ability to play games with friends online as well as early access to demos. Gold members also benefit from discounts and free games every month, making the price well worth it for frequent gamers.
An Xbox Live Gold subscription is no longer required to use Party Chat, Looking 4 Groups, and free-to-play multiplayer features.
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Signing Up For Xbox Live
What Is Xbox All Access
Xbox All Access is a monthly installment payment option for a new Xbox Series S or X. Customers can sign up for the plan to pay $35 a month for an Xbox Series X or $25 a month for an Xbox Series S. Both plans include 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. There are no upfront fees and 0% APR. Best Buy, GameStop, Microsoft Store, Target and Walmart are all participants in the program, however, the trick is to sign up when consoles are available. If you’re still on the hunt for an Xbox Series X or S, will have the latest restock updates for you.
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Do People Still Play Shadowrun Xbox 360
People still play it, but mostly on the weekends.
Are Xbox 360 online servers still up?
Microsoft Will Shut Down Halo Xbox 360 Online Services in December 2021. Every game has its day in the sun, and eventually, any that rely on online servers will face a sunset. Microsoft said that it wouldnt shut down the online servers sooner than December 18, 2021.
Is Xbox Live On The Xbox 360 Free
Topics. Xbox Live is the Xbox 360 consoles free internet service. When you connect to Xbox Live through the Internet, you can play Kinect and controller games with online pals or watch high-definition streaming material including movies, TV series, sports events, and your favorite music in high-definition.
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Xbox Game Pass Vs Xbox Live Gold: What’s The Difference Between The Two Services
Both subscriptions offer more gaming options for Xbox owners, but they’re not the same. We break down the differences.
Oscar Gonzalez
Does the PS5 have an edge on the Xbox Series X and S in terms of its lineup of current and upcoming exclusive game titles? Maybe. But where the Xbox has a distinct advantage is its Game Pass subscription option, which lets Xbox owners play more than 100 games for a single flat fee, billed monthly, quarterly, annually or even as part of the Xbox hardware purchase price.
It’s a great deal, but the only problem is that Microsoft has some confusing messaging around the available Game Pass options: There are three versions of the subscription, along with a Xbox subscription called Xbox Live Gold. Gold, meanwhile, is included in some versions of Game Pass, but not others.
Need help untangling the differences? Read on.
Xbox Games With Gold Will No Longer Include Xbox 360 Titles
As of October 2022, Microsoft will stop offering free Xbox 360 titles through Games with Gold. The company announced the change in an email sent out to Xbox Live Gold subscribers in the US, Canada and other parts of the world. We have reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalog, the company states in the message. However, Games with Gold will continue to include exciting Xbox One titles and exclusive savings each month.
The email adds that Xbox users can redownload any 360 titles they claimed through Games with Gold regardless of whether they continue to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold.
“No other Xbox Live Gold benefits will be impacted by this change,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Engadget. Were always looking at ways to evolve the Xbox experience based on community engagement, feedback and shifting company priorities. We have reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing and technical constraints. We will continue to focus on providing Xbox One titles through the Games with Gold program.”
Update 12:47PM ET: Added comment from Microsoft.
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