Latest news with #MoviesAndTV
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Microsoft Gets Out of the Movie and TV Business: How to Save Everything You Bought
After almost two decades, Microsoft is finally exiting the movie and TV distribution business. Going forward, Microsoft will no longer offer new movies or TV shows for purchase on the Microsoft Store on Windows, or the Microsoft Store on Xbox. Users are not eligible for refunds on content they've already bought, with Microsoft pointing to the Microsoft Store's Terms of Sale. However, you can continue to access content you've previously purchased in the Movies & TV app on your Xbox or Windows devices. Microsoft also says it will continue providing tech support for any film and TV content you've already purchased through its official stores. The good news is that if you're in the US, you can sign up for the Movies Anywhere platform to connect your Microsoft-purchased movies with other Movies Anywhere retailers, including iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, and Comcast's Xfinity. Launched in 2014, Movies Anywhere is a cloud-based digital rights locker and streaming platform that allows users to stream, download and store movies they've purchased elsewhere. Microsoft didn't provide any details about what motivated its decision to shut down the storefront, but the move shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Though it remains an unavoidable player in the world of video games, Microsoft has already shut down most of its platforms providing traditional media content. Microsoft Groove, which started life as Zune Music, was discontinued in 2017 after struggling to compete with rivals like Spotify, Google Play Music, and Apple's iTunes. If you're interested in moving your media library to Movies Anywhere, head to its website or open the Movies Anywhere app, available on the App Store or Google Play. In the mobile app, tap your profile picture, then tap the Settings (gear) icon. If you're using the website, click the arrow next to your profile name and select Settings. Then choose Manage Retailers, and tap Connect next to the digital retailer you want to link. You'll be directed to Microsoft to complete the process—just follow the on-screen instructions to connect your accounts. Once you're done, return to Movies Anywhere to confirm that your accounts are connected. Unfortunately, it's important to note that not all major streaming platforms are integrated with Movies Anywhere. If your preferred platform is Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Paramount+, or Peacock, you might have to settle for your second choice when exporting your Microsoft library.
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Popular TV feature on Xbox is shut down in blow for 28 million gamers – what it means for your purchases
A POPULAR TV feature on Xbox has been shut down in a blow for 28 million gamers. Microsoft has suddenly shut its movies and TV store on Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. 1 You can no longer purchase new movies and TV shows from the Microsoft store on Xbox or Windows. But you will still be able to access previously purchased content on your devices. Microsoft said: "Downloads will continue to be available on Windows and in HD max resolution." You'll have to continue using the Movies & TV app on Windows or Xbox to play the content you own, rather than accessing it from another service. Microsoft isn't offering a refund for purchases either. Ever since Microsoft shut down its Groove Music service in 2017, this change has been nervously anticipated by Xbox and Windows users. The company had originally launched a movies and TV storefront with Zune Marketplace in 2006. It was then replaced by Xbox Video in 2021 and then morphed into the Movies & TV app and store in 2015. A decade later and its gone. Microsoft is now leaving it up to Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV and other streaming services to cater for movies and TV content on Windows and Xbox. Microsoft finally reveals its brand new handheld console They will continue to provide support for any issues with previously purchased content. Users will be hoping the company keeps its servers online for years to come yet. The Sun also reported last month how millions of Xbox owners have been left with a bad taste in their mouths after the latest console update bombarded them with ads. While the new updates fix some long-standing issues, the Xbox user experience has also been impacted. In the update, Microsoft had finally fixed the heavily complained-about bug where video game box art and thumbnails were stretched or distorted on the home screen, following a previous update in July 2024. What first felt like an exciting change for the retro console, has left some gamers disgruntled. Elsewhere, Microsoft is also set to replace the iconic blue screen of death after 40 years of filling people with dread. In a bittersweet announcement, the tech giant said it is "streamlining the unexpected restart experience". "This change is part of a larger continued effort to reduce disruption in the event of an unexpected restart," David Weston, Microsoft's Vice President of Enterprise and OS Security revealed. A part of that is slashing the downtime during the worrying unexpected restart to about two seconds for most people. The blue screen of death will be replaced by a simpler black screen of death instead.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Microsoft Abruptly Ceases Digital Movie and TV Sales
Microsoft, after nearly two decades, has exited the business of selling digital TV and movies. Without advance warning, Microsoft's Movies & TV app as of Friday has stopped sales and rentals for movies and TV shows. 'Important: Microsoft no longer offers new entertainment content for purchase, including movies and TV shows, on Microsoft Store on Windows, and the Microsoft Store on Xbox,' the tech giant says in a support notice on its site. More from Variety Xbox Series X/S Deals: The Next-Gen Gaming Consoles Are Discounted for Prime Day PlayStation's 'Helldivers 2' Coming to Xbox in August Microsoft Scraps 'Perfect Dark' Reboot, 'Everwild' and Other Games, Closes Studio The Initiative The notice did not provide any explanation for the decision. Variety has reached out to Microsoft reps for additional info. The company's discontinuation of movie and TV sales and rentals was spotted earlier by tech site Windows Central. Customers who have previously purchased content through the Microsoft Movies & TV storefront can continue to access it on an Xbox or Windows device, the notice says. Microsoft is not offering refunds; citing the Microsoft Store Terms of Sale, 'Movies and TV shows are ineligible for refunds.' Microsoft originally launched a movies and TV storefront for its Zune device in 2006. That evolved into the Xbox Video store in 2012 before getting renamed Microsoft Movies & TV in 2015. Meanwhile, Microsoft's support site says users cannot directly transfer your purchased TV shows and movies to another service. U.S. customers can sign up for the Movies Anywhere cloud service to 'connect select purchased movies' with participating retailers, according to Microsoft. Those include Apple, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango, Google Play/YouTube and Comcast's Xfinity, according to the Movies Anywhere website. Studios that participate in Movies Anywhere, which is operated by Disney, are Disney/Fox, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
