Microsoft Discontinues the Xbox 360

After almost a decade worth of gaming goodness, Microsoft has called time on its most popular console to date, the Xbox 360.

"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. We will continue to sell existing inventory of Xbox 360 consoles, with availability varying by country," wrote Head of Xbox Phil Spencer on the official Xbox website.

(Also see: Xbox One Exclusive Games Available Offline, Xbox One to Follow Soon)

And while the company won't be making any more Xbox 360s, owners will still get Xbox Live services for their consoles, allowing access to online multiplayer gaming and parties as well as access to the apps they use today, and Games with Gold and Deals with Gold. Games will still be available on disc (while supplies last) and digitally as well. Spencer also mentioned that Xbox 360 hardware will still be supported as well (as per the terms and conditions on the Xbox Support Page).

(Also see: Decade-Old Xbox 360 Gets Enhanced Cloud Storage)

This move should have an interesting set of repercussions on markets like India. While the Xbox 360 never set sales records in the country, it used to do steady business, even more considering that it's still easy to modify to allow for playing pirated content. On the Xbox India website, the Xbox 360 has an MRP of Rs. 12,990 for the 4GB version with Peggle 2 while the 500GB variant with Call of Duty: Ghosts and Call of Duty: Black Ops II has an MRP of 21,990. Discontinuing the console may result in market operating price over and above what it is right now.