Microsoft Quietly Pulls the Plug on Its Films and TV Retailer

Microsoft abruptly shut down its on-line film and TV retailer. On Friday, the tech big quietly up to date each its general and Xbox assist pages to replicate the adjustments. Customers will now not have the ability to purchase new content material from Microsoft.com and the Microsoft Retailer on Home windows and Xbox. 

Fortunately, Microsoft says for those who already personal motion pictures or exhibits by means of the shop you’ll be able to nonetheless watch them through the Films & TV app on Xbox and Home windows units. Microsoft says technical assist will even proceed for points with any beforehand bought content material, at the least for now.

Sadly, Microsoft says it isn’t offering any refunds or methods for customers to switch their libraries to different digital video companies. Nonetheless, U.S. customers can hyperlink choose titles to Films Anyplace, a platform that consolidates digital purchases from collaborating retailers right into a single library.

Microsoft didn’t clarify why it all of the sudden shuttered the service. A spokesperson advised Gizmodo in an e-mail that the corporate “has nothing additional to share right now.” 

The transfer seems like a quiet retreat from digital video, as video streaming companies like Netflix and Prime Video reign supreme. Microsoft’s assist web page even directs customers to make use of competing companies.

“The Xbox and Home windows shops produce other leisure companies that provide the newest dwelling leisure releases. The next transactional companies can be found at the moment: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at House, amongst others,” the corporate mentioned. 

Xbox customers posted on Reddit that they began receiving notifications in regards to the change this morning.

“Microsoft Films & TV will now not supply motion pictures or TV exhibits for buy. You may proceed watching your beforehand bought and private movies on Xbox. Thanks for being a part of the Xbox group,” the notification mentioned, based on a screenshot on Reddit. 

Some Reddit customers additionally mentioned that they noticed this coming once they seen the variety of sale promotions on the shop began to dwindle in latest months. Others are anxious that the Films & TV app will even finally be shut down and that they could completely lose their bought movies. 

This isn’t the primary time Microsoft has backed out of digital media. It shut down its Zune music service in 2015, then closed its successor, Groove Music, in 2017, when it advised customers to move their playlists to Spotify.