Microsoft Discontinues Xbox Fitness Service

Published: June 28, 2016 10:30 AM /

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Xbox Fitness

Microsoft has announced that it will be cutting Xbox Fitness. The service was an exclusive brand under which Microsoft sold various fitness videos from popular fitness figures such as Jillian Michaels and Tony Horton. As opposed to simply playing back videos, it would utilize the Kinect to track heart rate, sweat, balance, and estimate calories burned. However, after the post-announcement backlash that the Kinect would be required for the Xbox One to run at all, Microsoft later revamped Fitness to not require the Kinect. 

In its announcement, Microsoft noted that all sales will cease immediately. Any purchased media will be available until June 30, 2017, and it will shut down entirely July 30, 2017. 

Beginning today, June 27, 2016, Xbox Fitness content will no longer be available for purchase. For existing users of Xbox Fitness, the content you’ve purchased will be available to play for a year, through June 30, 2017.

On December 15, 2016, we will be removing our “Free with Gold” offer.  Until then, Gold members will still be able to access and play the over 30+ workouts available for streaming as a part of this offer for free.

On July 1, 2017, Xbox Fitness (and all associated content) will no longer be available for download/play. This includes content you’ve purchased. At that time, Xbox Fitness will no longer be available for download from Xbox Marketplace and content will not be available for play from the Xbox Marketplace nor within the game. Xbox Fitness users will no longer be able access Xbox Fitness and the associated workouts/programs.

Xbox Fitness’ data was capable of integrating into Microsoft’s Health tracking system, which is also used with the Microsoft Band, their smartwatch/activity tracker. At this time, Microsoft has not announced any plans to change or discontinue the Health service altogether. 

Did you use Xbox Fitness? Are you sad to see it go? What do you think led to this decision? Let us know in the comments.

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I've been a lover of video games, writing, and technology for as long as I remember. I have a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana… More about John