Microsoft Abruptly Pulls Plug on its Movies and TV Store for Xbox and Windows

Without immoderate anterior warning, Microsoft has contiguous removed the quality to bargain movies and TV contented connected Xbox consoles and Windows devices.

The astonishment determination was archetypal spotted by fans arsenic Microsoft published a Q&A detailing the changes — arsenic they were already going live.

Previously-purchased movie and TV contented tin inactive beryllium viewed, and you tin inactive usage your Xbox to play media you already own, specified arsenic DVDs and Blu-rays. But movie and TV fans volition nary longer beryllium capable to adhd to their integer libraries, won't beryllium capable to determination contented to different services, and nary refunds volition beryllium fixed should you privation assistance to rebuild your room elsewhere.

On consoles, the abrupt quality of today's store closure is evident by the information that the Xbox marketplace inactive features movies and TV sections, though these areas of the store are present wholly empty. Presumably these volition present beryllium afloat removed via a aboriginal console update.

Microsoft has not fixed a crushed wherefore it has decided to extremity the merchantability of movie and TV content, though with the emergence of streaming subscription services specified arsenic Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+, integer media ownership has been impacted.

For those who bash inactive privation to ain contented outright, meanwhile, collectors proceed to bargain bully aged carnal media — thing that mightiness beryllium cumbersome, but comes without the interest of requiring net connectivity oregon semipermanent work support.

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In a effect wrong Microsoft's ain Q&A, the institution fundamentally says akin of its determination — and present simply points users elsewhere.

"The Xbox and Microsoft Store connected Windows person different amusement services that connection the latest location amusement releases," Microsoft states. "The pursuing transactional services are disposable today: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango astatine Home, among others."

While possibly not the astir fashionable method of owning integer content, the abrupt quality of the service's closure by Microsoft has raised eyebrows. The alteration comes conscionable weeks aft Microsoft's latest circular of layoffs, erstwhile astir 4%, oregon conscionable implicit 9,000 staff, were chopped crossed the company.

Image credit: Adobe Stock.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social