Microsoft is Shutting Down their Classic Internet Games Service
https://www.ispeech.org/text.to.speech
It has been a good run, but Microsoft has finally decided to shutdown the services powering their classic multiplayer Microsoft Internet Games. After almost 20 years of entertainment, Windows users will no longer be able to fire up Internet Spades, Backgammon, or Checkers and get quick game with someone on the other side of the world.
Even today, if you fire up Internet Spades on Windows 7, you will quickly get into a game with four players ready to win some tricks. While you were never able to say whatever you wanted, Microsoft created a list of questions, answers, and statements that you could send to your live opponents to make things more interactive.
In a post to the Microsoft forums, Microsoft announced that they were going to begin shutting down the Internet Games services for Windows ME and XP starting on July 31st, 2019. For Windows 7 users, it will be shut down on January 22, 2020, eight days after Windows 7 reaches end of support.
We truly appreciate all the time and passion you’ve put into Microsoft Internet Games. This has been a great community.
However, the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources towards more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences.
Current players may enjoy the games until the dates above, when game services will cease, and the games listed will no longer be playable.
While we’re saddened to leave this chapter behind, we continue to be committed to delivering engaging, delightful gaming experiences. We hope you’ll come with us on this journey and join the community of any of the other Microsoft casual games.
The games affected by this shutdown are listed below:
- Internet Backgammon (XP/ME, 7)
- Internet Checkers (XP/ME, 7)
- Internet Spades (XP/ME, 7)
- Internet Hearts (XP/ME)
- Internet Reversi (XP/ME)
- MSN Go (7)
R.I.P. Microsoft Internet Games, which are for some their first introduction to multiplayer online games.
Gloss