Microsoft announced last year that the Xbox 360 Marketplace would be shutting down at the end of July. While that date is rapidly approaching, there’s still time to take advantage of a massive fire sale on a wide range of Xbox 360 games. Many titles are available for as low as $1, making it an excellent opportunity to snag some classics before they’re gone forever.
After July 29th, players will no longer be able to purchase any products through the Xbox 360 Marketplace. While you’ll still be able to download and play games you already own, features like the Movies & TV app will cease to function. This means now is your last chance to fill your digital library with some classic titles.
While some big hitters, like Halo 3, Bioshock, and Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto series, aren’t included in the sale, there are plenty of excellent choices. Many of the titles are available on other platforms, but if you’re still using your Xbox 360, or simply want to own them for preservation purposes, this is the perfect time to build your collection.
Some deals are real no-brainers. The short but brilliant sci-fi shooter Black is available for just $1. The Batman Arkham trilogy (Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Origins) is $5 per game, and much of the DLC and skins are free. Several Resident Evil games are up for grabs for only $2 each, and The Evil Within, a sister game in the same vein, is just $3. If you somehow want to revisit Skyrim, it’s on sale for $4.50.
The sale is also an excellent way to check out some lesser-known titles. The 2011 game Bulletstorm, developed by People Can Fly (the studio behind Outriders) and Epic Games, received a remaster in 2017, but this sale gives you a chance to experience it on the Xbox 360 for just $2.
While Xbox offers players easy ways to purchase older titles on newer platforms, the end of the Xbox 360 Marketplace is still a significant blow to games preservation efforts. It marks yet another platform going offline in recent years. The 3DS and Wii U eShops were shut down in 2023, and PlayStation initially planned to end purchasing support for the PS3, PS Vita, and PSP before reversing some of that decision due to backlash. This trend of digital storefronts closing highlights the ongoing challenges of preserving digital games and ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.
