Microsoft Shutting Down Xbox TV OneGuide Listings

In terms of gaming, Microsoft has had quite a number of ambitious ideas, both past and present. Ever since the release of the original Xbox back in the early 2000s, Microsoft has had its hand in a cacophony of console implementations and accessibility features. Although, not all of the studio's ideas are destined to succeed, and one of those features will be shut down in a couple of months.

When designing the Xbox One, Microsoft wanted it to be the only console players would ever need, and this led to a lot of ambitious implementations, including the addition of live TV listings by way of a program called OneGuide. This feature was only found on Xbox One and is coming to a close.

As confirmed earlier today by The Verge, the OneGuide listing program on Xbox One will be shutting down for good in May of this year. For players who had hoped to use the Xbox One as an all-in-one system for both gaming and live TV, this seems to be the final nail in that dreams' coffin. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that Xbox will be moving away from TV implementations.

Back in November of last year, Phil Spencer teased an Xbox TV app that could be downloaded on Smart TVs without having to pay for a new console. For those looking to have both gaming and television on an all-in-one platform, that idea seems much more tangible and perhaps more importantly, more efficient for users to utilize.

When OneGuide was first implemented, streaming services like Netflix and Hulu had started to gain a lot of user traction. Now, with practically every current and previous generation of consoles being able to stream movies, TV series, and sometimes even live TV through apps like Hulu, OneGuide doesn't really work as favorably by comparison.

In any case, it will be interesting to see what the future holds in terms of any television-related Xbox implementations. Phil Spencer has talked a lot about the future of cloud gaming and the potential it could have on the gaming scene as a whole. Admittedly, the idea has a lot of promise, considering that one could just download an Xbox Game Pass style app on their TV, pay for a subscription, and then be able to play a bunch of games right through their TV. Only time will tell if Microsoft's ambitions succeed or dwindle, as was the case with OneGuide.

While modern technology has improved video games as a medium tremendously, it also means some people occasionally get left behind. For gamers without internet access or more commonly poor-quality internet service, many aspects of modern games can't be enjoyed by them.

Luckily, as video games have improved as a whole, so have single-player experiences that don't require internet access. Despite almost launching as an online-only console, the Xbox One is now home to a wide selection of fantastic games that don't require an internet connection to enjoy.

Cuphead, a game that has since branched out to other consoles, was originally a crown jewel for the Xbox. The beautifully animated run-and-gun boss rush game inspires nostalgic feelings in more than just the art department. The game is challenging, often even unfair, but it rarely gets to a point that the player feels the urge to put the game down. There's just something so addictive about running into a boss over and over looking for that big win.