Microsoft has ended production of its Xbox 360, just over ten years after it was launched. Once current stocks have gone, that will be that.
“Xbox 360 means a lot to everyone in Microsoft. And while we’ve 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,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in a blog post.
“We will continue to sell existing inventory of Xbox 360 consoles, with availability varying by country.”
However, Xbox Live will continue to be supported alongside multiplayer and Games With Gold for the time being, but there was no word for how long. Games for the console can still be purchased through the online marketplace.
“I want to personally thank the Xbox community – that includes the vast and diverse audience of gamers, developers and publishers who brought so much passion and creativity to the Xbox 360,” Spencer added. “You are the heart of what we do at Team Xbox, and you have been critical to the success of Xbox 360.”
Xbox 360 sales knocked up just over 80 million units over its lifetime. The greatest period came when games such as Halo 3, Gears of War and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare were released. The Xbox 360 has undergone many changes during its lifetime. The original Pro, Arcade and Elite models were superseded by the Xbox 360 Slim and then eventually the Xbox 360 S.
Xbox 360 games live on in Xbox One, however, the Xbox One has not sold well compared to the PS4, Sony’s rival to Microsoft’s console since its launch in November 2013.