Twitter’s API Changes Appear to Have Caused Microsoft to Disable Xbox Console Screenshot Sharing

Twitter’s recent API changes appear to have caused Microsoft to disable Xbox screenshot and clip sharing on console and via the Game Bar on Windows. Fortunately, the ability to upload to Twitter via the Xbox app is still working.

Xbox’s Twitter account has been responding to users who are Tweeting about their problems with trying to upload screenshots to the social media platform, including @ShadowBoy662 who wasn’t able to share Minecraft content.

We have had to disable the ability to share game uploads to Twitter directly from the console and Game Bar on Windows. You can still share your favorite moments to Twitter via the Xbox app for Android and iOS.

— Xbox (@Xbox) April 20, 2023

“We have had to disable the ability to share game uploads to Twitter directly from the console and Game Bar on Windows,” Xbox’s Twitter account wrote. “You can still share your favorite moments to Twitter via the Xbox app for Android and iOS.”

It also shared a “quick lesson” on sharing screenshots and clips via the Xbox mobile app.

1. Go to the Xbox mobile app
2. Select ‘My Library’ -> ‘Captures’
3. Choose your screenshot/clip
4. Select ‘Share’ & then ‘Twitter’

Microsoft has yet to give an official reason as to why it disabled the functionality, but this move does come following Twitter’s API price changes in March 2023 that could see, according to Wired, companies like Microsoft in the Enterprise Package level paying around $42,000/month for access to 50 million Tweets using the API.

Considering API access used to be free, this is a massive change that Microsoft may not be willing to pay up for.

This move also follows Microsoft’s decision to drop Twitter from its advertising platform. This functionality allowed users to manage their social media accounts in one place to create and manage Tweets, view past Tweets and engagement, schedule Tweets, and more. Starting on April 25, Twitter will no longer be supported but others platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn will continue as normal.

In other Twitter news, the platform has officially removed all verified legacy checkmarks. Now, the only way to get a checkmark is to pay $8/month to subscribe to Twitter Blue or be a certain level of celebrity on the level of William Shatner, LeBron James, and Stephen King where Musk will pay for you to have it even if you didn’t plan on subscribing.

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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.