Microsoft Azure Service Disruption Impacts Xbox Game Downloads, Minecraft, and More

Major Outage Hits Microsoft Azure Affecting Xbox and Minecraft Services

Microsoft Azure is currently facing a significant outage that is disrupting numerous services, particularly impacting Xbox game downloads and access to Minecraft. This unforeseen situation has drawn attention due to the level of disruption it has caused among gamers and developers alike.

Cause of the Outage Identified

According to a status update from Microsoft, the connectivity problems emerged around 16:00 UTC. The company has indicated that the root of these issues stemmed from “an inadvertent configuration change” within the Azure Front Door (AFD) service, leading to a cascade of operational interruptions across their cloud platform.

Ongoing Impact on Users and Game Publishers

As the situation continues to evolve, multiple corrective measures are being actively implemented; however, the outage persists at the time of this report. Game publishers, including Obsidian Entertainment, which announced difficulties regarding The Outer Worlds 2, have warned players that purchases and installations on Xbox consoles and PCs may face interruptions. This revelation was shared via Bluesky.

Many users are experiencing issues not only with The Outer Worlds 2 but also with other games, including the popular title Minecraft. Reports from multiple online forums and tracking site Down Detector confirm that Minecraft is currently offline.

Current Status and Comparisons to Previous Outages

As of now, there is no clear timeline regarding when services will be restored. Microsoft will continue to update users as new information becomes available. It’s worth noting that this outage closely follows last week’s extensive AWS disruption, which reportedly affected nearly half of the internet, including popular services like PSN, Fortnite, and Roblox. That particular incident was resolved within a few hours, highlighting the challenges cloud service providers face in maintaining consistency and reliability.

We will keep this post updated as more details emerge and the restoration of services commences.

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