Dark clouds appear over ‘Xbox Cloud Gaming’ as it retires apps on some TVs
Microsoft is pulling back on Xbox Cloud Gaming, retiring apps on certain smart TVs as the company reassesses the service’s long-term strategy. This marks a sharp reversal from Microsoft’s previous aggressive promotion of cloud gaming, which positioned it as superior to traditional consoles—famously declaring that devices like Samsung Smart Fridges were better for gaming than Xbox hardware itself.
The shift suggests Microsoft may be redirecting resources away from cloud gaming infrastructure, possibly due to competing demands for data center capacity. Industry observers point to the “RAMpocalypse” and growing pressure to allocate servers elsewhere as potential factors. The company’s wavering commitment raises questions about the viability of its cloud gaming ambitions compared to competitors like PlayStation Plus Premium and NVIDIA GeForce Now.