If you still enjoy playing Halo games on the Xbox 360, set aside some time to play them this weekend as next week online services for multiple Halo titles are being shutdown.
Posting on the Halo Waypoint website, developer 343 Industries confirmed that on Jan. 13, game servers for seven Halo games on the Xbox 360 will be turned off. The titles impacted by this decision include:
- Halo: Reach
- Halo 4
- Halo 3
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Halo Wars
The online features that are disappearing vary per game, but generally speaking matchmaking, fileshare, service record, challenges, player customization, MOTD, and some extras are set to disappear. The few exceptions include both Halo 3 titles which will retain access to service record and player customization. Both Halo Spartan Assault and Halo Wars will retain access to matchmaking. As for achievements, support will vary per game, but how it varies hasn't been detailed.
The servers being turned off means that these features will disappear even if you are playing the backwards compatible versions on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. Away from the Xbox 360, both Halo Wars: Definitive Edition (Xbox One, PC) and Halo: The Master Chief Collection will continue to enjoy the full list of online features. The Master Chief Collection includes Halo: Reach, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4.
Although this news will be disappointing for some, we have to keep in mind that the Xbox 360 is now 16 years old and Microsoft has released two generations of console hardware since then. Add to that the fact these Halo games remain fully-playable, they just won't have access to a small selection of online features after Jan. 13.