Microsoft abruptly shuts down popular digital service

Blockbuster now not lower than had the decency of death a unhurried, protracted death.

That chain, which introduced VHS tapes, and later DVDs, to thousands and thousands of individuals slowly closed stores and even presently, has one remaining arrangement. Microsoft's Motion pictures & TV app, which used to be perchance now not rather as indispensable as Blockbuster, simply stopped working.

Related: T-Mobile will soon pause a convenient app potentialities love

Fans of the app did now not assemble any form of warning or a countdown to closure; they simply logged in and positioned the following message:

"Microsoft now now not offers new entertainment remark for buy, including movies and TV displays.”

That is a frigid-hearted manner to entire a product that will never include change into a mainstream name, however used to be quiet utilized by millions of individuals.

Microsoft did now not entirely abandon its potentialities. It hasn't erased your yarn, and your purchases can quiet be accessed.

• You may possibly quiet circulation bought remark through Xbox and Windows units.
• You may possibly’t buy or rent the relaxation new.
• No refunds shall be issued. In accordance with the Microsoft Retailer Terms of Sale, movies and TV displays are labeled “ineligible for refunds.”

The firm declined a save a question to from Form for comment on the shutdown.

Microsoft has carried out this sooner than

Conception to be one of the major causes vinyl albums include made a comeback is that digital libraries lack permanence. Microsoft has now not removed the Motion pictures & TV apps from Windows or Xbox, however there may be no trusty reason for the firm to include up it.

The app now now not produces income and retaining it working comes with charges. Microsoft has now not acknowledged it, however the shutdown will not be any doubt a warning to individuals to either switch their purchases to 1 other app, and even ogle them one final time.

Sadly, digital rights carry out now not no doubt switch. Some movies should quiet be accessible on the Motion pictures Anyplace platform, however that is dinky to the dinky quantity of studios and movies taking part in that project.

There'll not be any the same possibility for TV displays, and ancient previous suggests that Microsoft will sooner or later simply take away the app and compose it inaccessible for present users.

More Tech Stocks:

• Analyst who precisely predicted Rocket Lab stock surge resets forecast
• Verizon Q2 earnings epic surprises with remarks on tax reform
• Fund supervisor who forecast Nvidia stock rally reboots outlook

Microsoft also shot down one other potential resolution in a Q&A on its net pages that used to be posted sooner than the shutdown.

"Yes, you are going to be ready to download bought movies or TV episodes to your native keen power the utilization of Windows 10. Alternatively, there’s a discover: Motion pictures and TV displays bought from the Microsoft Retailer are in total protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM). This vogue they may be able to now not be played with trusty any media participant, including Windows Media Participant. As a replacement, you’ll include to bid the Motion pictures & TV app to play them," a Microsoft employee shared in 2024.

Microsoft beforehand left digital library holders empty-handed

Microsoft once tried to compose its be pleased acknowledge to Apple's iPod, the Zune. To state the Zune used to be a failure could be a sarcasm — unparalleled admire asserting those Kevin Costner legend Western movies ("Horizon: An American Saga") he made after leaving "Yellowstone" were a bad desire.

Zune used to be now not a gross sales success, however it equipped very good fodder for jokes by late-night comedians. It wasn't that the product used to be bad, it used to be that it used to be very late to the birthday celebration — a bit admire IBM popping out with its be pleased i(BM)Phone staunch now.

When Zune closed, users no doubt misplaced their digital libraries. The shutdown used to be a bit drawn-out.

Historic previous of Microsoft's Zune closure:

• Zune Marketplace closed in 2012, and chunky service functionality ended by 2015.
• Zune instrument and units stopped receiving abet in 2017.
• Microsoft officially discontinued Zune companies exclusively on November 12, 2015.

It used to be imaginable to relieve up your purchases to 1 other power or tune participant, however most songs were protected by digital rights management. That intended you would download them, however now now not play them — digital relics that mocked you for now not shopping an iPod. (iPod libraries were without problems transferred to Mac or iPhone by job of iTunes.)

Completely different key apps Microsoft has killed

Skype (consumer)

• Shutdown Date: May 5, 2025
• Feature: Pioneering VoIP messenger for video and direct calls (launched 2003)
• What Took arrangement: Microsoft retired the patron Skype service, migrating users to Microsoft Teams Free.

Paint 3D

• Discontinued: Far from Microsoft Retailer on November 4, 2024
• Feature: 3D editing utility launched as an enhanced model of traditional Paint in Windows 10
• Why: Microsoft pivoted to focal point on the built-in Paint app (on Windows 11) and its 3D Viewer for handling 3D remark.

Distant Desktop App (Microsoft Retailer)

• Discontinue of Enhance: May 27, 2025
• Feature: Distant desktop consumer from Microsoft Retailer
• Replacement: Customers must switch to the new Windows App, which helps Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Field ingredients.

Cortana (Virtual Assistant)

• Discontinued Length: Phased down between 2019–2023; fully retired by late 2023
• Feature: Built‑in assistant across Windows, mobile, Xbox, and IoT
• End result: Modified by Microsoft Copilot; standalone app abet ended on Windows and mobile platforms.

Groove Music (and Groove Music Pass)

• Streaming Provider Ended: December 31, 2017
• App Discontinued: Android/iOS apps ended December 2018; on Windows changed by Media Participant by early 2023
• Feature: Music participant and subscription streaming service
• Converse: Microsoft impressed users to migrate to Spotify on the time.

Wunderlist

• Shut Down: May 6, 2020
• Feature: Cloud-based to‑stay record and task supervisor
• End result: Customers transitioned to Microsoft To Make, with import tools equipped sooner than sync ended.

Windows Live Author

• Discontinued: January 2017
• Feature: Desktop blog-publishing tool (part of Windows Live Necessities)
• Aftermath: Microsoft launched an originate-offer fork known as Originate Live Write.

Related: Warren Buffett unloads $1.2 billion of this well-liked tech stock