Xbox fans recently discovered that the Xbox 360 has received a new update affecting its dashboard. This update comes nearly a year after Microsoft announced the shutdown of the console’s marketplace, which took place on July 29, 2024. This closure significantly limited access to numerous games from the renowned seventh-generation console. In August 2023, Microsoft revealed the impending marketplace closure, aligning with the Xbox 360’s nearly 19-year lifespan since its launch in 2005.
The Xbox 360 played a crucial role in transforming gaming by making online connectivity an essential feature for future consoles. Before the marketplace shut down, players could purchase digital versions of various titles, including indie games, Xbox Live Arcade offerings, and major releases like Grand Theft Auto 4 and the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Leading up to the shutdown, Microsoft and its partners provided substantial discounts on digital games, allowing players to build their libraries economically. Post-shutdown, gamers wanting to experience classic Xbox 360 titles will have to obtain physical copies unless they downloaded them previously.
On June 24, Reddit user trackwalker discovered that the Xbox 360 dashboard had received an update, and others across the U.S. reported similar updates on their consoles. This update appears to address image-stretching issues affecting game thumbnails when users inserted game discs. While the update seems limited in function, many gamers express appreciation for Microsoft’s continued support of the console despite the marketplace’s inaccessibility. Some fans are hopeful that no further changes will come to the dashboard, believing it is currently in its best state.
Meanwhile, others await the update’s rollout to their consoles, as it seems to have primarily affected users in the United States. There have been rumors regarding a potential “Xbox Classics” initiative for backward compatibility with Xbox 360 titles; however, insiders have dismissed these claims, confirming Microsoft’s in-house emulation team is overseeing such efforts. Nonetheless, many Xbox 360 games remain accessible through backward compatibility on newer Xbox Series X|S consoles.