Xbox fans woke up to a strange sight on November 1, 2025. Multiple delisted Xbox 360 games that have been unavailable for years are now displaying a coming soon status on the Microsoft Store in select regions. This unexpected listing has the gaming community buzzing with questions about whether Microsoft is planning to bring back these classic titles or if it’s just another technical hiccup in the platform’s notoriously buggy storefront.
What’s Actually Happening
Reports started flooding Reddit’s gaming communities after users in various regions noticed that games previously removed from the Microsoft Store were appearing with a coming soon tag. The catch is that these aren’t upcoming releases. These are Xbox 360 titles that were delisted months or even years ago due to expired licensing agreements, publisher decisions, or other legal complications. The Microsoft Store has a history of displaying incorrect information, but this particular glitch has captured attention because of the timing and scope.
The situation mirrors a similar incident from June 2025 when Xbox 360 backward compatible titles and even defunct Windows Phone games started appearing in the Xbox PC app library. Microsoft later confirmed that was indeed a bug caused by the company attempting to unify the back ends of different storefronts. The current coming soon listings could be another side effect of similar backend changes.
Microsoft’s History With Store Glitches
This isn’t the first time the Microsoft Store has confused and frustrated users with inaccurate game listings. Earlier in 2025, the Xbox app recommended Forza Horizon 3 to players, which seemed odd considering the game was delisted back in 2020. Players noticed the error immediately and turned it into an online joke about Microsoft’s inability to keep its digital storefronts properly organized.
In May 2025, Xbox delisted 27 games from European markets without warning, including well-known titles like Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Super Meat Boy Forever. That incident raised questions about how Microsoft communicates changes to its digital library and whether the company properly tests store updates before rolling them out to users.
Could Games Actually Be Returning
While most signs point to this being another technical glitch, there’s a slim possibility that Microsoft is testing the waters for re-releasing some delisted titles. In April 2024, Xbox boss Sarah Bond announced that Microsoft was assembling a new team dedicated to game preservation and backward compatibility. The team’s mission is to expand the library of playable classic games for future generations.
Microsoft’s backward compatibility program ended in November 2021 with a final addition of 76 titles. At the time, the company stated they had reached the limit of bringing new games to the catalog due to licensing, legal, and technical constraints. However, the formation of the new preservation team suggests Microsoft hasn’t completely abandoned efforts to make older games accessible.
The big question is whether Microsoft has resolved the licensing issues that caused these games to be delisted in the first place. Bringing back delisted titles requires renegotiating agreements with publishers, developers, and anyone who holds rights to music, likenesses, or other intellectual property featured in the games. That’s not a quick or simple process.
The Reality of Delisted Games
The Microsoft Store currently lists over 530 delisted Xbox 360 titles according to preservation databases that track removed games. Once a game is delisted, it typically doesn’t come back. There have been rare exceptions like Silent Hill Downpour, which briefly reappeared on digital storefronts for about an hour before being removed again. That incident was confirmed to be an error, not an intentional re-release.
When major titles are scheduled for delisting, Microsoft usually gives players advance warning and opportunities to purchase them before they’re gone. Forza Horizon 4 was announced months before its removal, and Microsoft ran several promotions to encourage players to add it to their libraries. The fact that these delisted Xbox 360 games suddenly appeared without any official announcement strongly suggests this is unintentional.
What Players Should Do
If you’re hoping to play delisted Xbox 360 games, your best bet remains hunting down physical copies. Backward compatible Xbox 360 games work on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles using the original disc. You won’t be able to purchase digital versions of delisted titles, but owning a physical copy grants access through backward compatibility features.
Some players have reported that games they previously purchased digitally before delisting remain in their library and can be redownloaded. If you owned a delisted game on Xbox 360, check your purchase history on your current Xbox console. There’s a decent chance you can still access it even though new purchases aren’t possible.
Microsoft’s Silence
As of now, Microsoft hasn’t issued any official statement about the coming soon listings appearing on delisted Xbox 360 games. The company typically doesn’t comment on store glitches or errors unless they cause widespread problems that affect gameplay or purchases. Given the pattern of similar incidents throughout 2025, this latest issue will probably be quietly fixed without any public acknowledgment.
The gaming community has learned to take these store anomalies with a grain of salt. Until Microsoft makes an official announcement about bringing back delisted titles, players should assume this is just another technical hiccup in an already problematic digital storefront system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are delisted Xbox 360 games actually coming back?
Most likely not. The coming soon listings appearing on delisted Xbox 360 games are probably the result of a Microsoft Store glitch or backend error. Microsoft has not made any official announcement about re-releasing previously delisted titles.
Why do games get delisted from Xbox Store?
Games are typically delisted due to expired licensing agreements, music rights issues, publisher decisions, or other legal complications. When agreements expire and aren’t renewed, Microsoft is legally required to remove the games from sale.
Can I still play delisted Xbox 360 games?
Yes, if you own a physical disc. Xbox 360 discs work on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S through backward compatibility. If you purchased a delisted game digitally before it was removed, you can usually still redownload it from your library.
Has Microsoft ever brought back delisted games?
It’s extremely rare. Silent Hill Downpour briefly reappeared for about an hour in a previous incident, but it was quickly removed again and confirmed to be an error. Permanent re-releases of delisted titles almost never happen.
What is Microsoft’s game preservation team working on?
In April 2024, Microsoft announced a new team dedicated to game preservation and backward compatibility. The team aims to expand the library of playable classic games, though Microsoft hasn’t provided specific details about upcoming additions.
How many Xbox 360 games are currently delisted?
According to game preservation databases, over 530 Xbox 360 titles are currently delisted from the Microsoft Store. This number continues to grow as more games reach the end of their licensing agreements.
Will the Xbox backward compatibility program continue?
Microsoft officially ended the backward compatibility program in November 2021, citing licensing, legal, and technical constraints. However, the formation of a new preservation team in 2024 suggests the company is exploring ways to expand access to classic games in the future.
Conclusion
The appearance of delisted Xbox 360 games as coming soon on the Microsoft Store has certainly grabbed attention, but all evidence points to this being another technical error rather than a sign of returning classics. Microsoft’s digital storefronts have experienced numerous glitches throughout 2025, from recommending delisted games to displaying incorrect availability information. While the company’s new game preservation team offers hope for the future of classic gaming on Xbox, bringing back delisted titles requires resolving complex licensing issues that can’t be fixed overnight. For now, players eager to experience these removed games should focus on tracking down physical copies that work through backward compatibility. Unless Microsoft makes an official announcement, it’s safe to assume these coming soon tags will quietly disappear in the next store update, just like previous glitches have.