Xbox TV Division Shutting Down

Well that didn’t last long. Before it could even really begin, Microsoft is planning to let go of the team making the Xbox Original TV shows.

Xbox Entertainment Studios was set to work on projects like a live-action Halo series, but the few things that they did manage to release in their short time weren’t grabbing enough attention. . . or at least, that seems to be the excuse they’re sticking to. This closure comes as a part of a restructuring at Microsoft that will see approximately 18,000 jobs cut within the next year, a majority of that number being jobs that are no longer needed since their purchase of the Nokia brand.

Oddly enough, this comes right after the news that since the release of the Kinect-free, cheaper Xbox One last month, the console’s sales have more than doubled. I was personally looking forward to what they could create with this team, especially after seeing the success of other similarly handled shows like Netflix’s House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Microsoft’s original focus on TV and programming helped separate the Xbox One from the competition, and I can only see this decision hurting them more than helping, even if they claim that it will result in an even larger focus on the games.

Will any of you be missing the potential for more good shows to watch outside of regular cable TV, or does using a console to watch shows just not attract you either way?

Jeremy Harrison has been into gaming and just about everything nerdy or out of the norm for as long as he can remember. He likes to keep an open mind about things, but also has a strangely high amount of fun getting into a rant or good debate. . . which is probably why he was recruited to this site in the first place. You can Email Jeremy or follow Jeremy on Twitter @NightmareAsylum or Facebook