According to a recent update from Microsoft, Xbox gamers will no longer be able to use a console feature due to a recent change to the Twitter API. In the past few months, the social media platform has undergone some notable changes since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022. One of Musk’s recent changes is how the platform will handle its APIs with third-party stakeholders. Now, the changes appear to be affecting even Xbox players.
Twitter has gone through its fair share of controversial changes lately, with its new API access policy being one of the most notorious. Under the platform’s new policy, access to Twitter’s API will come at pricing tiers, with large businesses like Microsoft having to pay as much as $42,000 a month for access. As a result, the Xbox maker recently announced that Twitter will be removed from its advertising platform starting April 25. Microsoft’s choice not to pay the $42,000 monthly fee also means some of Twitter’s integrations with platforms like the Xbox game console will no longer work.
Xbox’s official account recently confirmed that due to recent changes to the Twitter API, the company has disabled the ability to send game content to Twitter directly from the Game Bar on Xbox consoles and Windows. Of course, Microsoft isn’t the only gaming entity disabling features due to Twitter’s changes. Back in February, World of Warcraft announced that it would be removing the Twitter integration following an API change. Fortunately, in the case of Xbox, players can still share clips to Twitter through the Xbox mobile app on Android and iOS.
Notably, this is one of the few questionable policy changes Twitter has made since the Musk acquisition. Back in December, Twitter announced it would limit cross-promotion to other social media platforms and would begin deleting accounts, tweets and banning posts on third-party platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Mastadon. At the time, Twitter also said it would ban accounts or tweets from link aggregators like linktr.ee and lnk.bio. More recently, social media platforms have taken a similar approach with Substack.
As for Xbox, the removal of the ability to share game content to Twitter directly from Xbox consoles and Windows is not good news for gamers. Still, the Xbox maker has been busy looking to add gaming offerings for users, particularly with efforts like the company’s recent gaming partnerships and a potential Windows 11 handheld gaming mode. Plus, with many expecting Microsoft’s deal with Activision Blizzard to be approved soon, Xbox gamers have a lot to get excited about in the upcoming future.