Microsoft closes 20-year-old entertainment service without warning

Blockbuster no lower than had the decency of death a sluggish, protracted death.

That chain, which introduced VHS tapes, and later DVDs, to hundreds of hundreds of americans slowly closed shops and even this day, has one closing set aside. Microsoft's Motion photos & TV app, which modified into as soon as most more than likely no longer somewhat as accepted as Blockbuster, merely stopped working.

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Fans of the app did now not pick up any kind of warning or a countdown to closure; they merely logged in and located the next message:

"Microsoft no longer affords new leisure hiss material for aquire, including motion photos and TV shows.”

That is a cold-hearted come to total a product that will never maintain develop into a mainstream title, nonetheless modified into as soon as mild ragged by millions of americans.

Microsoft did now not utterly abandon its possibilities. It hasn't erased your tale, and your purchases can mild be accessed.

• It is likely you'll maybe mild circulation purchased hiss material through Xbox and Home windows units.
• It is likely you'll maybe’t aquire or rent something else new.
• No refunds will likely be issued. Per the Microsoft Store Phrases of Sale, motion photos and TV shows are labeled “ineligible for refunds.”

The corporate declined a request from Range for touch upon the shutdown.

Microsoft has done this earlier than

A few of the causes vinyl albums maintain made a comeback is that digital libraries lack permanence. Microsoft has no longer removed the Motion photos & TV apps from Home windows or Xbox, nonetheless there's now not any true reason within the help of the company to serve it.

The app no longer produces revenue and conserving it working comes with funds. Microsoft has no longer acknowledged it, nonetheless the shutdown is in actuality a warning to americans to either switch their purchases to 1 other app, and even respect them one closing time.

Unfortunately, digital rights accomplish no longer in actual fact switch. Some motion photos may mild be accessible on the Motion photos Wherever platform, nonetheless that's small to the small sequence of studios and motion photos taking part in that mission.

There's now not any an identical possibility for TV shows, and historical past suggests that Microsoft will ultimately merely take away the app and assemble it inaccessible for reward customers.

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Microsoft also shot down one other potential resolution in a Q&A on its web situation that modified into as soon as posted earlier than the shutdown.

"Sure, you should the potential to select up purchased motion photos or TV episodes to your native laborious power utilizing Home windows 10. On the opposite hand, there’s a pick up: Motion photos and TV shows purchased from the Microsoft Store are generally safe by Digital Rights Administration (DRM). This means they cannot be played with good any media participant, including Home windows Media Participant. In its build, you’ll must make exhaust of the Motion photos & TV app to play them," a Microsoft employee shared in 2024.

Microsoft beforehand left digital library holders empty-handed

Microsoft as soon as tried to function its bear acknowledge to Apple's iPod, the Zune. To speak the Zune modified into as soon as a failure may be a sarcasm — worthy esteem announcing these Kevin Costner legend Western motion photos ("Horizon: An American Saga") he made after leaving "Yellowstone" were a bad different.

Zune modified into as soon as no longer a sales success, nonetheless it completely offered astounding fodder for jokes by gradual-evening comedians. It wasn't that the product modified into as soon as bad, it modified into as soon as that it modified into as soon as very gradual to the occasion — somewhat esteem IBM coming out with its bear i(BM)Telephone luminous now.

When Zune closed, customers in actuality misplaced their digital libraries. The shutdown modified into as soon as somewhat drawn-out.

Historic past of Microsoft's Zune closure:

• Zune Marketplace closed in 2012, and beefy service performance ended by 2015.
• Zune instrument and units stopped receiving toughen in 2017.
• Microsoft formally discontinued Zune services and products totally on November 12, 2015.

It modified into as soon as likely to help up your purchases to 1 other power or tune participant, nonetheless most songs were safe by digital rights administration. That meant you will pick up them, nonetheless no longer play them — digital relics that mocked you for no longer trying to search out an iPod. (iPod libraries were with out problems transferred to Mac or iPhone through iTunes.)

Assorted key apps Microsoft has killed

Skype (consumer)

• Shutdown Date: May 5, 2025
• Purpose: Pioneering VoIP messenger for video and issue calls (launched 2003)
• What Came about: Microsoft retired the consumer Skype service, migrating customers to Microsoft Teams Free.

Paint 3D

• Discontinued: A ways from Microsoft Store on November 4, 2024
• Purpose: 3D editing application launched as an enhanced version of classic Paint in Home windows 10
• Why: Microsoft pivoted to focal level on the built-in Paint app (on Home windows 11) and its 3D Viewer for facing 3D hiss material.

A ways off Desktop App (Microsoft Store)

• Dwell of Give a boost to: May 27, 2025
• Purpose: A ways off desktop consumer from Microsoft Store
• Replace: Customers must switch to the new Home windows App, which helps Home windows 365, Azure Digital Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Field functions.

Cortana (Digital Assistant)

• Discontinued Duration: Phased down between 2019–2023; fully retired by gradual 2023
• Purpose: Built‑in assistant all the most effective intention through Home windows, mobile, Xbox, and IoT
• End result: Replaced by Microsoft Copilot; standalone app toughen ended on Home windows and mobile platforms.

Groove Song (and Groove Song Pass)

• Streaming Service Ended: December 31, 2017
• App Discontinued: Android/iOS apps ended December 2018; on Home windows replaced by Media Participant by early 2023
• Purpose: Song participant and subscription streaming service
• Demonstrate: Microsoft inspired customers to migrate to Spotify on the time.

Wunderlist

• Shut Down: May 6, 2020
• Purpose: Cloud-based to‑attain list and job supervisor
• End result: Customers transitioned to Microsoft To Create, with import tools offered earlier than sync ended.

Home windows Are residing Writer

• Discontinued: January 2017
• Purpose: Desktop blog-publishing instrument (part of Home windows Are residing Requirements)
• Aftermath: Microsoft released an birth-provide fork called Open Are residing Write.

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