Microsoft announced that “Inside Xbox,” the on-console video service will be discontinued in the US. Major Nelson broke the news on his blog, but didn’t offer an explanation beyond “we must continue to invest our resources and talents wisely.”
The US version is viewed on servers in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
“We will be leveraging third-party news and video content available through a variety of existing and future partners, and supplementing this content with select first-party offerings,” added Nelson.
“However, day-to-day news content and weekly programming currently offered though Inside Xbox will cease production in the United States. This includes shows like Major’s Minute, Featured Videos and Insider Moves packaged under the Inside Xbox brand.”
That does not explain what, if anything, will be happening to the European versions.
“Xbox Live in EMEA is currently looking at its operating model for Inside Xbox,” he wrote.
“This could potentially result in some changes, but we have no news here to share yet.
“Xbox Live in Mexico and Japan will continue to produce first-party content for its members via other media outside of the Inside Xbox brand.”
With the addition of a number of video providers to the Xbox 360 dashboard last year, including: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, 4oD and LoveFilm, and entertainment application usage has reportadly surpassed actual online gaming, perhaps that shift in focus has come at the expense of Microsoft’s internal video teams.
(Via EuroGamer)