The Xbox 360 has been killed by Microsoft. The company announced in a blog post Wednesday, April 20, that it will no longer be producing the console after 10 years. The news has ignited a flurry of interest that the tech giant is going to replace this with the Xbox Two.
Microsoft executive Phil Spencer stated that it was no longer viable to make the console. "The realities of manufacturing a product over a decade old are starting to creep up on us," wrote Spencer in the official blog.
However, Microsoft will still continue providing services to thousands of Xbox 360 owners. The console's end of production doesn't mean it will be totally useless for gamers.
Achievement Unlocked: 10 Years - Thank You, Xbox 360 https://t.co/l2hr8q6iJO
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 20, 2016
Xbox 360 Console Dead But Services Remain
In keeping their commitment to Xbox 360 users, Microsoft said that gamers can still:
- buy games for the console
- access the Xbox apps
- receive invites to online games and events
- keep their online access to Xbox Live
- avail of hardware support, if needed
Additionally, the company is offering a backward compatibility feature that will enable gamers to play Xbox 360 games in the current console, Xbox One. This is at no added cost and there are already over 100 titles included for this feature, per Reuters.
Is Xbox Two Arriving Next?
With the end of Xbox 360, speculations on the coming of Xbox Two has been building. Despite the company's repeated claims that it is not developing the next generation console just yet, talk of a console launch in the fall is getting louder.
The rumors are even louder as Microsoft Xbox's competitor, Sony PlayStation, is said to be coming out with the PS4 Neo, as Parent Herald previously reported. PS Neo is an upgraded PlayStation 4 that's meant to cater to virtual reality gamers, who can enjoy 4K resolution support better. Microsoft has no console to match the PS4 Neo just yet.
