Microsoft has announced that it intends on shutting down its Mixer service on 22 July and reveals plans to move existing partners over to Facebook Gaming.
The move comes after Mixer has struggled to compete with other streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube and Facebook Gaming.
Microsoft faced the decision whether to invest more money into the platform, or to look at ways to enhance the community for its users.
Mixer Partners, streamers, and community – today, we've got some very big news for you.
While we’ve decided to close the operations side of Mixer, we're officially partnering with @FacebookGaming and we're cordially inviting all of you to join.
📰 https://t.co/E1eMDvjYQb pic.twitter.com/554hHAXfaB
— Mixer (@WatchMixer) June 22, 2020
In an interview with The Verge, Head of Gaming at Microsoft, Phil Spencer, said: “Microsoft started pretty far behind, in terms of where Mixer’s monthly active viewers were compared to some of the big players out there.
“I think the Mixer community is really going to benefit from the broad audience that Facebook has through their properties, and the abilities to reach gamers in a very seamless way through the social platform Facebook has.”
As part of the transition between platforms, Partners at Mixer will also be offered full partnership status with Facebook Gaming.
Streamers who use the Mixer monetisation programme will also be granted eligibility for Facebook’s Level Up scheme, and players who have outstanding Ember balances will be offered Xbox gift card credit instead.
Microsoft’s partnership with Facebook is strategic and aims to grow their XCloud game streaming service through the partnership.
XCloud will reportedly appear within the Facebook Gaming streaming service, and viewers will be able to click into games that people are streaming and play them immediately.
In a post on Twitter, Mixer thanked users for “sharing their passion” and stated that Mixer would remain online until 22 July.
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