Microsoft cans 'Inside Xbox' original programming

Inside Xbox closes down.

Xbox Live's Inside Xbox videos are ceasing production in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Microsoft announced today.

The Inside Xbox video series included news shows, game tips and how-to tutorials for Xbox 360 titles and was distributed for free to members through Xbox Live to 24 countries. Shows included The OXM Report, Insider Moves, Xbox 101 and Major's Minute.

The news hit this afternoon on Major Nelson's website under the headline "Changes for Inside Xbox (U.S.)"

Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb said that the decision to kill the popular programming was driven by the need to "invest our resources and talents wisely."

"In the last 10 years, Xbox LIVE has transformed in so many amazing ways, and as a community we've experienced so much together," he wrote. "I've personally witnessed many changes that have helped Xbox LIVE improve and together with our members we've created a community we all value and rely on.

At Xbox, we are focused on making entertainment and gaming more amazing, and we must continue to invest our resources and talents wisely. Consequently, we've decided to discontinue production of Inside Xbox in the United States, and as a result this content will also no longer be available in Canada, Australia and New Zealand."

Inside Xbox content in the Europe, the Middle East and Africa is also being reexamined, he said. Xbox LIVE in Mexico and Japan will continue to produce first-party content for its members via other media outside of the Inside Xbox brand, according to Hryb.

In the future Microsoft plans to use "third-party news and video content available through a variety of existing and future partners, and supplementing this content with select first-party offerings."

The news hit on the same day that The Verge reported that a new, subsidized Xbox 360 was coming from Microsoft which would require a two-year subscription and provide access to both Xbox Live Gold service and "possibly some additional streaming content from cable providers or sports package providers."

The news also comes the day after IGN Entertainment launched an Xbox Live app which will provide Live members access to IGN's video content.

Hryb wrote on this site that the decision to cancel Inside Xbox content was not an easy one.

"Our teams working on Inside Xbox have done a great job connecting with our members and delivering high-quality, informative game news and tips," he wrote. "We thank them all for their contributions to the Xbox LIVE community and wish them all the best in their future endeavors."