It looks like the Xbox 360 will be going to that great red ring of death in the sky, as Microsoft has announced that it is officially discontinuing the console after more than 10 years of production.

“The Xbox 360 helped redefine an entire generation of gaming at Microsoft,” Xbox head Phil Spencer wrote in a blog post. “I am incredibly proud of all of the work and dedication that went into development of the Xbox 360 hardware, services and games portfolio over the last decade. And I’m grateful to the fans for their continued passion and support.”

Throughout its life cycle, the Xbox 360 has seen a number of landmark game releases, from first year titles like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Gears of War to later releases such as Mass Effect, BioShock, and more.

“Xbox 360 means a lot to everyone in Microsoft,” Spencer continued. “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.”

“We know that many of you became gamers on Xbox 360 and are still active, so it’s important to us that while the overall Xbox gaming experience will evolve and grow, we will continue to support the platform you love in multiple ways.”

According to Spencer, Microsoft will continue provide Xbox Live support for Xbox 360, which includes online multiplayer and access to the thousands of games that can be purchased and downloaded digitally through the service.

“I want to personally thank the Xbox community,” Spencer concluded. “That includes the vast and diverse audience of gamers, developers and publishers who brought so much passion and creativity to the Xbox 360. You are the heart of what we do at TEAM XBOX, and you have been critical to the success of Xbox 360.”

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