Xbox Fitness users lose access to videos they paid for

Microsoft has announced that its Xbox Fitness service is closing. The service, available on Xbox One, includes paid videos in addition to free training programs for Xbox Live Gold members. Buyers of those videos will no longer be able to view them as of July 1, 2017.

Xbox Fitness was introduced in November 2013 along with the Xbox One and works in conjunction with the Kinect camera. Microsoft has announced that the service will be discontinued through a sunset announcement. Effective immediately, it is no longer possible to purchase paid Xbox Fitness content. As of December 15, the ‘Free with Gold’ offer will no longer apply. That is, after that, Xbox Live Gold members will no longer have access to the training programs.

On July 1, next year, Microsoft will permanently shut down the service and remove all Xbox Fitness content. Users who have paid for optional training programs can view these videos until June 30, 2017. After that, they too will lose access to all Xbox Fitness content.

Users who paid for Xbox Fitness content are complaining about Microsoft’s announcement. Several people report that they have paid amounts of, say, 60 or 140 dollars for training programs. Microsoft has not indicated that it will compensate customers for such expenses. Some users report that they don’t want to receive compensation at all, but want to continue using what they paid for.

Microsoft has not stated why the company is discontinuing Xbox Fitness. Presumably there is too little interest in the service. Fitness uses the Kinect motion controller. Microsoft originally planned to ship all Xbox One consoles with Kinect, but after much comment from gamers, the company gave up and released a cheaper version without Kinect. The recently presented Xbox One S lacks the connection option for the Kinect camera and an additional accessory is required to connect Kinect.