Microsoft has updated the Xbox 360 dashboard and completely removed the store section following the official closure of the Xbox 360 Marketplace. This change leaves the dashboard looking simpler but much emptier than before.
Although the storefront is gone, Xbox 360 servers are still running, so players can access their previously purchased games and download history.
(Photo : Xbox 360 / Screenshot taken from hortiN on YouTube)
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Xbox 360 Store Disappears After Update
The biggest change, perhaps, has been with the Xbox 360. Microsoft has removed the storefront altogether from its dashboard. This is a pretty firm way of killing off the ability to buy new content directly on the console following a recent decision to shut down the Xbox 360 Marketplace.
The new dashboard is clean and plain. However, this new minimalism has attracted the nostalgia of some long-time users for the old interface, which came loaded with a wide range of options such as gaming, social features, and entertainment applications.
Microsoft's decision to renovate the dashboard and remove the store section reflects the transition the console is undergoing at this stage of its life cycle. Although the ability to make new purchases is no longer available directly from the dashboard, owners of the Xbox 360 can still see their purchase history and download games previously acquired.
This functionality ensures that despite the store's closure, the console remains useful for existing users.
Mixed Reactions to New Update
Interestingly, alongside these changes, users have also noticed the disappearance of specific games from the Xbox Store, such as the original version of 'Sonic Generations.' This removal might be linked to an upcoming remaster of the game, hinting at Microsoft's strategy to streamline its offerings while focusing on newer or updated content.
Opinions in the Xbox community have been mixed. Some understand it for its sleek, ad-free interface, while others mourn the full-featured dashboard of days gone by.
Despite these mixed feelings, the core services of Xbox Live remain intact, meaning the Xbox 360 still supports online play and achievements.
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