Microsoft removes Xbox gameplay video sharing to Twitter after API fee hike

Yet another Microsoft product is removing its Twitter integration shortly before the social media platform's new high-priced API plans go into effect.

This time it's Xbox.

Last week, Xbox gamers began to notice that they could no longer share video game clips to Twitter. The feature was previously built right into the console and allowed users to record gameplay and share their favorite moments right to the social media platform.

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"We have had to disable the ability to share game uploads to Twitter directly from the console and Game Bar on Windows," the official Xbox Twitter account replied to a few users who noticed the removal of Twitter sharing. "You can still share your favorite moments to Twitter via the Xbox app for Android and iOS."

Xbox's statement adds news of an additional removal from the Game Bar available on Windows computers, which allows similar screen recording and social media sharing functionality.

The official Xbox Twitter account also provided a step-by-step guide for what users could do as an alternative.

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That alternative basically instructs Xbox users to record gameplay that they want to share as usual, then go to the Xbox app on their mobile device, find the clip, and then manually share it to Twitter.

While Microsoft did not specify that Twitter's new API pricing is the reason for this change, it seems very likely. Unlike the quicker and now-defunct method of sharing Xbox clips to Twitter, Xbox's sharing alternative does not use Twitter's API.

Earlier this year, Twitter unveiled plans to sunset its longstanding free API system. Under its new owner Elon Musk, the company announced its new paid-tiers just last month with a starting price for enterprise API access priced at $42,000 per month. As a result, many indie developers were forced to close their Twitter-based applications or function without Twitter integration altogether. 

But, it wasn't just small companies that passed on paying Twitter. Big companies like the online customer service platform Intercom and Microsoft have decided not to subscribe to these high-priced plans too.

Xbox isn't the only Microsoft product to drop Twitter either. Just one day before the Xbox change, Microsoft also announced it would be removing Twitter integration from the social media management feature in its Microsoft Advertising platforms. Again, this is likely due to Twitter's new exorbitant priced API plans.

Microsoft likely won't be the last company to drop Twitter either due to its API pricing. The question is: Who's next?