Summary

Microsoft is shutting down Skype in May, with data being transferred to Teams. The move has left the gaming community feeling disappointed, as Skype was once touted as a key feature for Xbox One.

However, its features, such as Snap and voice controls, have been largely forgotten. Despite this, Skype's legacy lives on in Microsoft Teams, which will continue to offer video conferencing and communication features.

This move highlights the evolution of Microsoft's communication tools and prioritization of new projects. The shutdown is a reminder that even big companies can change their priorities and abandon projects.

Summary

Microsoft has announced the retirement of Skype on May 5, 2025, marking the end of a 14-year tenure for the once-dominant internet calling and messaging service. The company acquired Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion, but it has since struggled to compete with newer platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, and its own Teams service.Skype's decline can be attributed to various factors, including frequent UI changes, reliability issues, and a shift toward enterprise use.

These challenges, combined with the rise of competitors, led to Skype's active user base shrinking from 300 million in 2011 to just 36 million by 2023.As Microsoft prioritizes AI features within Teams, existing Skype users will have until May 5 to migrate their data and contacts to the new platform or seek alternative solutions. The company has chosen not to lay off employees currently working on Skype, instead reassigning them to other projects.