| Microsoft Movies & TV | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Screenshot of Movies & TV app inWindows 10 | |
| Other names | Xbox Video Zune Video |
| Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
| Initial release | 16 October 2012; 13 years ago (2012-10-16) as Xbox Video |
| Stable release | |
| Operating system | Windows 11,Windows Server 2012+,Xbox One+ Discontinued
|
| Type | Television series,films |
| Website | support |
Microsoft Movies & TV,[2][3] also brandedFilms & TV,[4][5] was a digital video storefront service developed and run byMicrosoft for theWindows andXbox platforms. It offeredfull HD movies and TV shows available for rental or purchase from theMicrosoft Store. Personal digital collections could be watched and managed within the software app.[6] The service would be later discontinued on July 18, 2025.
The service originated with the launches of the Zune Marketplace and Xbox Live Video Marketplace on November 14, 2006, designed for media purchasing and consumption onZune players, Windows computers (using theZune software) and theXbox 360 console. The Zune storefront was only for audio, but from 2008 and 2009 also began offering TV shows and movies.[7][8] The Xbox Live branded service was then integrated into the Zune branded service.[9][10] The service generally competed more directly with similar online video stores includingiTunes Store,Google TV,Amazon Video, andVudu.
Microsoft replaced and relaunched the service as Xbox Video on October 14, 2012, with audio offerings becomingXbox Music.[11] It was then renamed Movies & TV in 2015. The Microsoft Movies & TVvideo player app was superseded byMedia Player in 2023 and 2022 respectively onWindows 10 andWindows 11. The Movies & TV service shut down in 2025 as part of Microsoft's continuing distancing from consumer entertainment services.[12]
| Timeline ofMicrosoft's online digital music and video offerings | |
|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2004 | MSN Music Store launches |
| 18 Oct 2006 | Release of version 11 ofWindows Media Player playback software |
| 22 Nov 2006 | Zune Marketplace andXbox Live Video Marketplace launches offering music and video downloads respectively |
| 19 Nov 2008 | Zune Pass music subscription service launches |
| 22 Jul 2009 | Release of version 12 ofWindows Media Player playback software |
| Fall 2009 | Zune Marketplace gains movies and TV content; Xbox Live Video Marketplace integrates into new Zune Video Marketplace |
| 26 Oct 2012 | Zune brand retired;Xbox Music andXbox Video streaming services and download stores launches; Xbox Music and Xbox Video apps also replace Windows Media Player as the default media playback software (inWindows 8) |
| 29 Jul 2015 | Xbox Music and Xbox Video apps and streaming services re-branded asGroove Music andMovies & TV/Films & TV respectively; Music and Video download stores merged into theWindows Store (later known as Microsoft Store) |
| 1 Jan 2018 | Discontinuation and shutting down of Groove Music streaming service (Pass) and music downloading from the Microsoft Store[13] |
| 16 Nov 2021 | Release of newMedia Player software replacing Groove Music and (for playback purposes) Movies & TV/Films & TV |
| 18 Jul 2025 | Microsoft Movies & TV/Films & TV store shuts down, ending Microsoft's presence in digital music/video distribution |
Xbox Live Marketplace's original video store was replaced byZune Marketplace on September 15, 2009.[14]
AtE3 2009, Microsoft announced their1080pstreaming video service, which allows users to stream video over an internet connection.[15] This technology is a key part of Xbox Video for their video streaming service.
With the announcement of Xbox Music services which would replace the Zune Marketplace music service, speculation arose about "Xbox Video", a potential service that would offer movies and television series, because the term "music" in the name of the service gave the impression that Xbox Music will offer strictly music, thus excluding films and television series.
With the launch ofWindows 10, Xbox Video appears under the name ofFilm & TV in the apps, with the storefront for the content merged intoMicrosoft Store as a whole as part of Microsoft'suniversal apps initiative.[16] However the name and branding ofXbox Video remains active on all the previous platforms and the official website.[17]
On September 17, 2015, with a system update for theXbox 360, the name of the app changed to reflect the new branding.[18] TheXbox One app had also changed in a previous update.
After previously being linked withMovies Anywhere in the past, Microsoft Movies & TV announced that they would be rejoining the service on August 6, 2018.[19]
On August 17, 2023, Microsoft announced that the Microsoft Movies & TV app on Xbox 360 will no longer function as of July 29, 2024.[20]
On July 18, 2025, Microsoft abruptly discontinued purchasing and renting on the platform. Microsoft stated that purchased content would still be accessible via the Movies & TV app.[21]
| Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Accessories | |
| System software | |
| Xbox Live | |
| Games | |
| Related | |
