Xbox 360 ‘Blades’ Interface Returns As Dynamic Background Ahead Of Digital Store Closure

The Xbox 360 digital store shuts down later this month on July 26. Amid a wave of price reductions and other end-of-life updates, nostalgic fans can relive the console’s earliest days via a new dynamic background modeled after the old “Blades” interface.

For those too young to remember or didn’t get an Xbox 360 until years later, the Blades interface was the console’s first dashboard design. It was the first thing players saw from the console’s launch in 2005 until it was updated to an entirely different interface in 2008. Navigating it felt smooth as butter, and some diehards still believe it’s the best UI of any Xbox console. 

Although it’s less detailed, and you can’t flip through the Blades of this dynamic background and hear that satisfying “whoosh” sound, it’s nice to see Microsoft acknowledge the 360’s like this. Here’s how you to make the Blades your Xbox background:

• Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
• Navigate to Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.
• Choose Xbox 360 Blades under Featured or Xbox dynamic backgrounds
• Select the background art you want using the A button.

You can read more about the impending 360 closure and final updates by visiting this Xbox Wire article.