Microsoft is killing off free Xbox Music

Microsoft is withdrawing free streaming on Xbox Music from December 1, citing the need to focus on its music purchase and subscription service. The company is offering a free 30-day trial for users wanting to move to the paid service. Effective December 1, 2014, the free Xbox Music streaming feature currently available on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and over the Internet will be discontinued in all countries where it is offered,” Microsoft wrote on a support page.

Microsoft plans to shut down the free version of its Xbox streaming service in December, the company announced today. Xbox Music Pass is an on-demand streaming music service that’s more or less Microsoft’s version of Spotify, which it created to help lure customers into its Xbox media ecosystem. Previously, the company allowed people to listen to an ad-supported version of the service for free on computers running Windows 8.1 and the web (provided you logged in with a Microsoft account). After six months, Microsoft capped the amount of time you could spend listening to 10 hours. Now, however, the company is shifting its strategy. “We are focusing Xbox Music to deliver the ultimate music purchase and subscription service experience for our customers,” Microsoft said in a new FAQ page regarding the shutdown of its ad-supported service. Those who wish to spend $10 per month can gain access the the entire service without ads or limitations on how long you can use it.