Sunday, July 20, 2025

MSFT Video Shut Down - Why AMZN Prime Video is not a solution for me

So, MSFT abruptly shut down their Video and TV app on the Xbox.  This kind of sucks, there were a few shows i was going to buy when they went on sale.  If history is something to go on, it is only a matter of time before the videos i have on there are inaccessible.

Most of the stuff i have on the app was anime i bought on sale (mostly $4.99 or less).  It worked fairly well for me and gave me another thing to use my MSFT Reward Points on (now it is only really useful for Game Pass, or a few games i've been thinking of for a while but never go on a deep enough discount).

Why did i get stuff on MSFT Video?  A $5 season is much more justifiable than a $50+ season of 12 or so episodes.  Though that doesn't apply if they are out of print (which since i started watching anime two or so years ago, many are).  $100+ seasons are the norm.  Anime Blu Rays are massively overpriced to begin with, ensuring relatively low sales.

i bought Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest on sale for $3.99 (plus sales tax, which i shouldn't have to pay for a digital license).  i believe that is out-of-print in Region A.  In general, AMZN Prime sales on anime suck.  Not nearly as good as the $5 semi-annual MSFT Video and TV sales over the past couple of years (which included the English dubbed versions and clearly state what you are "purchasing").

i noticed a few things were on sale at AMZN Prime Video.  But there is a very big problem i have with AMZN Prime Video purchases - the listings are kind of inaccurate.  When i got into the listing, i clicked on information: it said available languages included English - i went through every episode of the season and it said the same thing.  After i bought it, what was the only audio language available?  You guessed it, Japanese.

Suspect the problem lies in the fact that Prime Video is trying to push Crunchyroll subscriptions - and the information is for the streaming service, not the episodes/seasons you are actually buying from the listing.  Why would they do that for a listing though?  It makes no sense

The description for what i was actually "buying" on the storefront was wrong.  Should have known i was looking for "Simuldub", which unsurprisingly was not on sale (rarely is, and if it is the discount is pathetic).

i try not to use credit cards, preferring to buy gift cards at retail for cash - so that kind of limits my options (and eliminates streaming sites like Crunchyroll and Hidive).

For my use:  what MSFT Video and TV anime would i like to possibly replace as Blu-Ray (if i were to win the lottery)?  Many of these were Funimation.  i want the dubbed versions.  Wondering if digital will be the only cost-effective way to get Is it Wrong to Try and Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon Season 5 (assuming AMZN gets the dubbed version).  i'll probably get at least one on the following list for Solstice (that is not out of print) - Leaning towards Jobless Reincarnation Season 1 or Scientific Railgun (probably goes out of print soon, but is a little feminine)

  • Our Last Crusade: Or Rise of a New World Season 1 (also would like season 2)
  • The Devil is a Part Timer: Season 1
  • Apothecary Diaries Season 1 (parts 1&2), Season 2 Parts 1 (Part 2 never fully released on MSFT Video - tried to get it on Prime Video, was another Prime listing deception - no dub, Japanese only)
  • Mishoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 1 (Parts 1,2), Season 2 (parts 1,2)
  • Spy x Family: Season 1 (parts 1,2)
  • A Certain Scientific Railgun: Season 1 (though maybe subsequent seasons, have most of Certain Magical Index - this is in the same universe and has some crossover)
  • Wise Man's Grandchild: Season 1 (pretty sure this one is out-of-print)
  • Hensuki: Season 1 (probably out-of-print)
  • Rosario + Vampire: Season 1 (series, out-of-print)
Whish more series would go for complete seasons instead of the cour releases (12 or so episode half-seasons).

Then there are a couple i'm more on the fence with.  i did previously buy some things on my list well before MSFT video shut down.  Fairy Tail (up to Collection 11), Black Clover (through season 4), A Certain Magical Index (through season 3), Maken-Ki (Season 1) and Shimoneta (Season 1).




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