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Microsoft is killing off its Xbox One-era Avatars in January

A screenshot of the Xbox Avatar Editor, showing an avatar wearing a gray jacket, black pants, glasses, and white gloves, in photo mode.
Xbox Avatar as seen in the Microsoft’s October 2018 Xbox Update video. | Screenshot: YouTube

Microsoft is shutting down the Xbox Avatar Editor app, reports PureXbox. The Xbox Avatar FAQ says that “due to low engagement and our shift in focus towards delivering other player experiences,” it’s discontinuing the editor as of January 9th, 2025.

After that time, players won’t be able to access their Avatars or the items they’ve bought for them. The company will automatically refund users for any of those items they’ve bought since November 1st, 2023.

A GIF showing the Xbox Avatar Editor as it first appeared.
GIF: Xbox Avatar Editor
Xbox Avatar Editor, as it appeared in its June 2018 testing period.

Xbox Avatars, which Microsoft first rolled out in 2018, offered more diverse, detailed avatar creation than what had been available on the Xbox 360. Players can still edit and use those older avatars (aka Xbox Original Avatars) after the newer ones are deprecated, as Microsoft writes:

You can continue to update your gamerpic using the Xbox Avatar Editor app until January 9, 2025. After this date, any further changes to Xbox Avatar-themed gamerpics will need to be made through the Xbox Original Avatars app. To do this, launch the Xbox Original Avatars app, press the Menu button and select Take a photo. From there, you can adjust your avatar’s Animation and Background. Once you have the gamerpic you like, press the View button and then select Save as gamerpic.

If you’re fond of your Xbox Avatar, now might be a good time to get as many screenshots of it as you can. You’ll still be able to edit it until the January 9th shutdown.