Microsoft has abruptly ceased selling digital films and TV on its Xbox and PC stores.
The change happened on July 18, whenMicrosoftconfirmed that it will no longer sell movies or TV, and that no refunds would be available for any previously purchased content.
Microsoft has claimed that already purchased shows will be able to be redownloaded going forward.
A statement on the Microsoft supportsitereads: “Microsoft no longer offers new entertainment content for purchase, including movies and TV shows, on Microsoft.com, Microsoft Store on Windows, and the Microsoft Store onXbox. However, you may continue to access your purchased content in the Movies & TV app on Xbox or Windows device.”
This move seemingly marks a complete shift away from offering video content, 12 years after the disastrousXbox Onelaunch, which positioned the console as an “all-in-one home entertainment device”.
Xbox One’s reveal event focused almost entirely on television content, in fact – something that current gaming bossPhil Spencerhas since said, with hindsight, he would’ve changed.
“If you go back and watch [the reveal], what you’ll see is an event that was very much focused on Xbox as a TV platform,” Spencersaid in 2019. “We showed things like The Price is Right, for instance. In fact, I think the first piece of content that we ever showed on an Xbox One was a TV show.”
The Microsoft support site now recommends that customers use third-party services available on the Microsoft Store, such asAppleTV,AmazonPrime, and more. Microsoft has not announced what has sparked the change.
Microsoft announced sweeping layoffs earlier this month, which couldresult inover 9,000 staff memberslosing their jobs.
In the company’s gaming sector, the troubled reboot ofPerfect Darkhas been cancelled, andThe Initiativehas been closed.Rare’s Everwildhas also been cancelled, andseveral senior developers have left the historic studio.
ZeniMax Online Studios boss Matt Firorhas also announced that he is leaving the studioamid the cancellation of Project Blackbird, a long-in-development project at the studio.
