Xbox Avatars will probably be dropped from Xbox and PC in 2025
As introduced by way of Xbox Assist, the Xbox Avatar Editor app will probably be discontinued subsequent yr, and gamers will now not be capable of edit or see their Avatars. “This is not going to have an effect on the Xbox Authentic Avatars,” Microsoft says. “These will proceed to work in supported Xbox 360 video games, and you’ll nonetheless be capable of edit your Xbox Authentic Avatars contained in the Xbox Authentic Avatars app on Xbox consoles and Home windows units.”
The transfer will solely have an effect on the brand new Avatars, which you will now not be capable of see on Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox One, and PC after January 9. When you’ve got bought any Avatar objects from the Microsoft Retailer between November 1, 2023, and the closure on January 9, 2025, Microsoft says you will be “refunded to your legitimate fee instrument after the Xbox Avatar Editor app is now not obtainable.” Purchases made earlier than November 2023 will not be refunded by the sound of it.
“Microsoft is devoted to delivering nice experiences for gamers, together with a wide range of choices to personalize their gaming expertise with Xbox,” Microsoft says. “Because of low engagement and our shift in focus in the direction of delivering different participant experiences, the Xbox Avatar Editor app will now not be obtainable beginning on January 9, 2025.
“Gamers can nonetheless personalize their gaming expertise with dynamic backgrounds and profile colours on Xbox consoles, and with Xbox Authentic Avatars, profile themes, and gamerpics on Xbox consoles and PCs.”
Tom’s Take —
It was solely a matter of time till this traditional Xbox 360 function was dropped solely
Xbox Avatars have been launched in 2007 throughout the glory days of the Xbox 360, and on the time, they have been entrance and heart of our gaming profiles. Swiping by our associates lists revealed Avatars sleeping if gamers have been offline, and others pulling varied poses in entrance of a plethora of backgrounds when your folks have been on-line.
Some video games rewarded Avatar objects for unlocking specific Xbox achievements, resulting in Avatar customizations being a essential theme of Xbox gaming. Sadly, when the Xbox One arrived, Microsoft discontinued the system because it tried to make Xbox a media heart as a substitute of a devoted gaming machine. Everyone knows how that panned out, and in 2017 Avatars returned with an entire facelift.
Sadly, whereas it was nice to see Avatars return, they’ve turn into redundant. Gamerpics have taken the highlight, and the dynamic good friend lists are lengthy gone — I actually would have favored that to return. We at the moment are in an period of unpolluted UIs and minimal navigation, so it comes as no shock that Microsoft will probably be dropping assist for the as soon as superb function.
Whereas Avatars are being phased out, Microsoft not too long ago revived one other long-lost Xbox 360 function: good friend requests. Will you miss Xbox Avatars on new consoles? Tell us within the feedback, TrueAchievements group!