Xbox players started taking notice this week that Microsoft has removed the ability to share screenshots and clips directly from consoles or the Xbox Game Bar on Windows on Twitter. Open the sharing options window and you will see that the option for Twitter has been completely removed.
Microsoft confirmed Thursday — in response to a player’s tweet about the removal – that Twitter is no longer a sharing option. “We’ve had to disable the ability to share game uploads directly from the console and Game Bar on Twitter to Twitter,” read a tweet from the Xbox Twitter account. “You can still share your favorite moments on Twitter through the Xbox app for Android and iOS.”
We have had to disable the ability to share game uploads directly from the console and the Game Bar on Windows to Twitter. You can still share your favorite moments on Twitter through the Xbox app for Android and iOS.
— Xbox (@Xbox) April 20, 2023
Microsoft hasn’t said this is because of Elon Musk’s new Twitter API (application programming interface) paywall, but it’s quite likely that it is. Polygon has contacted Microsoft for confirmation and will update this story when we hear back.
Xbox’s change coincides with Twitter’s rollout of the new API pricing structure, which could cost a company like Microsoft about $42,000 per month. according to The Verge. Free and Basic tiers ($100 per month) are available as part of the new Twitter API pricing structure, but are intended for smaller projects.
Both Nintendo and Sony currently still allow players to send clips and screenshots to Twitter from their respective consoles. We’ve reached out to both companies to confirm that continued access.
For players who want to get their screenshots or sick video clips from their console to Twitter, there is another option: the Xbox mobile app. You can access your console recordings in the library there and then share them on Twitter, Instagram and elsewhere.
But in addition to sharing Twitter from Xbox consoles, Microsoft is also removing support for Twitter through its advertising platform. Company put a note at the top of a support page stating that support will end on April 25 – users of the advertising platform will not be able to manage tweets through the social media management tool it includes.
That seems to have angered Musk, who responded to a tweet about Microsoft’s discontinued support with “lawsuit.” claim that Microsoft “illegally trained using Twitter data.”