Without any prior warning, Microsoft has today removed the ability to buy movies and TV content on Xbox consoles and Windows devices.
The surprise move was first spotted by fans as Microsoft published a Q&A detailing the changes — as they were already going live.
Previously-purchased film and TV content can still be viewed, and you can still use your Xbox to play media you already own, such as DVDs and Blu-rays. But film and TV fans will no longer be able to add to their digital libraries, won’t be able to move content to other services, and no refunds will be given should you want help to rebuild your library elsewhere.
On consoles, the sudden nature of today’s store closure is evident by the fact that the Xbox marketplace still features movies and TV sections, though these areas of the store are now completely empty. Presumably these will now be fully removed via a future console update.
Microsoft has not given a reason why it has decided to end the sale of movie and TV content, though with the rise of streaming subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+, digital media ownership has been impacted.
For those who do still want to own content outright, meanwhile, collectors continue to buy good old physical media — something that might be cumbersome, but comes without the worry of requiring internet connectivity or long-term service support.
if you try and access the Movies & TV store on Xbox it just errors out after Microsoft’s sudden closure today https://t.co/RpCRmx7W9F pic.twitter.com/SbHMSeuOSH
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) July 18, 2025
In a response within Microsoft’s own Q&A, the company essentially says similar of its decision — and now simply points users elsewhere.
“The Xbox and Microsoft Store on Windows have other entertainment services that offer the latest home entertainment releases,” Microsoft states. “The following transactional services are available today: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home, among others.”
While perhaps not the most popular method of owning digital content, the sudden nature of the service’s closure by Microsoft has raised eyebrows. The change comes just weeks after Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs, when around 4%, or just over 9,000 staff, were cut across the company.
Image credit: Adobe Stock.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
