Xbox gamers are about to lose a decade of memories

In an unfortunate bit of news, Microsoft has announced that all Xbox Game Captures will be deleted early next year. Microsoft is now advising all users to back up their images so they won’t lose them forever, come the cleansing next year.

A number of Xbox users were messaged (via Pure Xbox) about this announcement, with Microsoft telling them to get their pictures while they can. This is due to a new policy that started earlier this month, with Captures now only lasting on the console for 90 days starting in January 2024.

"Due to a new policy starting October 1st, 2023, existing and new captures on the Xbox Network will be automatically deleted after 90 days,” Xbox warns fans. “The first deletions will start in January 2024. To back up your game captures before they’re gone, select Get Started below. To learn more about how to back up your game captures, select Learn More below."

Obviously, the news is a disappointment to many, as Xbox Game Captures have become second nature to many Series console users. Whether it’s getting that awesome win in Halo Infinite or beating the final boss in Hi-Fi Rush, players love capturing their moments of victory via this feature.

Xbox Game Captures have been active since the launch of the Xbox One in 2013. Long-time users have been still able to go back to their clips from a decade ago, watching themselves get early kills in Battlefield 4 or the original Titanfall. Those memories will soon be lost.

At the least, players won’t have a difficult time transferring their photos to other storage devices as a simple USB can be used to get everything, thanks to a recent system update. That being said, the fact this feature is being done, to begin with is already a massive disappointment for various Xbox users who have decades worth of memories in their console.

With pushes for digital-only Xbox systems making their way around, it’s gonna be hard to convince some players who might be sentimental about their screenshots. They might just be pictures to Microsoft, but many gamers have been able to capture fond memories with their friends via Game Captures and it’s sad to see that end.

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Xbox Game Captures will be deleted every 90 days, starting in January 2024. For more Xbox-related news, check out how Master Chief is finally playable in Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode. Also check out the other Season 5 changes being made, including improved Forge AI.