Global Outage Strikes Microsoft Xbox and Minecraft Disrupting Tens of Thousands of Users
On October 20, a major global outage impacted both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), leading to widespread disruptions. Gaming platforms, apps, and various online services were affected, bringing frustration to countless users worldwide.
Impact on Microsoft Xbox and Minecraft
As the outage unfolded around 3:30 PM, many gamers trying to access Xbox and Minecraft faced connectivity issues. Reports indicated severe difficulties in reaching the platforms, leading to a surge of complaints on social media.
Affected Services
The downtime did not only impact gaming. Key services relying on Azure and AWS experienced disruptions as well. Among the affected platforms were:
- Microsoft 365
- Outlook
- Starbucks app
- Costco
- Kroger
User Reactions
Users took to platforms like Twitter to express their frustrations. One user lamented, “First AWS, now Azure goes down. I love it when big companies own half the internet!” This sentiment was echoed by many experiencing difficulties accessing their favorite apps and services.
Previous Outage on October 20
This current incident follows another widespread outage on October 20, which also saw significant disruptions. Users of popular apps like Roblox and Snapchat, as well as banking services like Halifax, struggled to connect following an earlier server failure at Amazon.
Complaints and Connection Issues
Thousands of complaints flooded in from both the UK and the US during these outages. Many users relied on AWS to access various online services without needing physical hardware. The recent issues highlighted the dependency on these major cloud service providers for everyday connectivity.
With Azure and AWS facing scrutiny, many users are questioning the reliability of major tech companies that dominate internet infrastructure.
