Microsoft is offering more 4K films but there's still (much) work to be done

Last Oct, I took Microsoft to task over its 4K, Ultra-loftier Definition (UHD) flick selection, options, and availability in its Store and Movies & TV app for Windows x and Xbox.

Since then, I'thousand happy to see that Microsoft'south 4K offerings have not only grown, but at that place are some things available on Movies & TV that are not bachelor on competing services similar Amazon Prime. Simply that may be the only good news, as regional restrictions, an inability to upgrade, and the lack of support for the Movies Anywhere service is still a significant hindrance.

Below, I rate some related, and important, aspects of Movies & Idiot box and the Store.

4K UHD selection in the U.Due south.: A-

Even older content is at present availble in 4K, which is astonishing.

In October 2022, Microsoft had just under 30 titles that were 4K UHD in the U.S. Store. That number was depression, just to be fair, 4K UHD digital content was however relatively new, and many of the major studios had not released much material.

Fast forward to June 2022, and at that place are now just over 200 movies in 4K UHD available for streaming, buying, renting and downloading. As far every bit I can tell, every new picture that a studio releases that too has a 4K choice is existence fabricated available via Microsoft. That is awesome and the way it should be for consumers.

Offering the latest digital movies in 4K may seem like an obvious move, but take Marvel's Black Panther (2018), which is bachelor in 4K for $24.99 from Microsoft. Amazon is merely offering the digital version in SD or HD, non 4K UHD. The same goes for Apple who have no new Marvel movies in 4K catamenia. That's odd, but it at least highlights how inconsistent this content can exist beyond services.

There are many older flims, too, like The Great Gatsby (2013), E.T. (1982), or fifty-fifty the The Matrix (1999) available in 4K through Microsoft. Again, many of these are not available in 4K UHD on Amazon fifty-fifty in the U.S.

The real competitor, withal, is not so much Amazon as VUDU. VUDU has an app for Windows x and Xbox, and its shop often runs outstanding sales. They too have a massive collection of content in 4K UHD.

4K UHD selection exterior the U.S.: C

Outside of the U.S., I'm told that Movies & TV's 4K UHD content is still not-real, even in the U.Thousand, where many of our writers are located. That'southward however a problem for Microsoft.

I was surprised to learn that in the U.K., Amazon does not have any digital movies for rent or purchase in 4K UHD either.

I thought VUDU might be a good option, equally information technology's what I tend to utilize more oftentimes these days, but VUDU is a U.South.-only service besides.

My tentative conclusion here is while Microsoft tin exercise much better in other countries regarding 4K UHD digital film offerings, it is non exactly the exception to the dominion. In an unscientific poll on Twitter nearly 50 percent of respondents said they do non have any options for ownership digital 4K UHD content exterior of the U.S. whether it is Apple tree iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon suggesting this isn't a Microsoft-but problem.

Movies Anywhere everywhere rating: F

In November, I wrote an article criticizing Microsoft for not being a part of the initial moving ridge of the Movies Anywhere DRM system pushed by Disney.

For those unfamiliar, Movies Anywhere is an interoperable digital picture show locker service. It;s available via Amazon, VUDU, Apple iTunes and Google Play. Since its initial launch in belatedly 2022, FandangoNow – a service I did not even know existed – also joined the consortium.

The Movies Anywhere service works by letting you buy a movie on a service like Apple iTunes, just so stream that aforementioned motion-picture show through Amazon Prime or Google Play. Your films finer replicate on other platforms that are part of the Movies Anywhere ecosystem. For those who have large movie collections, the service is like a bank vault for your digital investment.

Internal reports from our sources advise Microsoft wanted to join the initial wave, but it was Disney'due south call who joins the waves, and Microsoft was left out. A study in March quoted Microsoft PR as "in discussions with Movies Anywhere about bringing their service onboard."

Since and then, there has been no new information.

The adept news is that bringing Movies Anywhere to Microsoft Movies & Idiot box might still happen – Microsoft was, afterward all, function of the original "Disney Movies Anywhere": earlier that service was rebooted for a rebrand in late 2022.

Simply until that ink dries, it is nevertheless to say y'all should buy movies through Movies & TV. Renting, nevertheless, is notwithstanding highly recommended.

Odds and ends

There are over 200 4K UHD films now offered past Microsoft (U.Southward.).

Regarding discoverability, for 4K content, Microsoft is getting a bit ameliorate. The Microsoft Store has a separate category called "Movies in 4K UHD" where you lot tin browse for but those films in that format.

Users can also search for "4K UHD" in the Store and become an even more than extensive collection with some older titles, such as Scorsese's 1990 mob hit Goodfellas in glorious UHD.

While the card option still defaults to HD format, at least in the description the very first line is "This title is available in Ultra High Definition and HDR capable" to let users know that a 4K selection is available. I'd still prefer to ready my Store to default 4K, but at to the lowest degree this is a kickoff.

Pricing is still expensive with most movies in 4K starting at $24.99 and going upwardly to $29.99 – a substantial bump in cost over full HD. Often, those 4K versions also don't get drops in sales even when the Hard disk and SD formats do. However, pricing is often set by the studios, not Microsoft, and competing streaming services aren't any unlike.

Microsoft (left) offers Black Panther (2018) in 4K, while Amazon (right) does non.

There is even so no way to upgrade a previously purchased motion picture to 4K. I own quite a few, including The Matrix and Bladerunner in full HD, just at that place is no pick for me to re-purchase those films in 4K – even at full cost – let lonely an "upgrade" cost, which is a shame. I'm now stuck forever with total HD films even when a UHD choice is correct there.

At to the lowest degree for those in the U.Southward., Microsoft Movies & TV for renting, streaming, and fifty-fifty buying films in 4K UHD is quite good and improving. That'due south the good news. The bad news is missing services similar Movies Anywhere, no 4K upgrade path, and regional restrictions still hamper the service.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-movies-tv-getting-much-better-4k

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