A significant outage of Microsoft’s Azure cloud services has reverberated through both the gaming and tech industries, leaving millions of users disconnected overnight. The incident, which unfolded late Wednesday (AEDT), was attributed to a configuration error that cascaded across Microsoft’s extensive global cloud network, impacting a variety of platforms from gaming services to essential business applications.
For gamers, the repercussions were felt almost immediately. Users attempting to sign into Xbox Live encountered failures, multiplayer sessions abruptly halted, and Minecraft servers went offline. The disruption extended beyond the gaming community, affecting major corporations reliant on Azure infrastructure; Alaska Airlines, for instance, reported notable service interruptions.
In response to the crisis, Microsoft has implemented a fix aimed at restoring traffic through its Azure Front Door network, gradually bringing systems back online. As of Thursday morning, access to Xbox and Minecraft services has largely been reinstated. However, the company cautions that some users may still face intermittent issues as the recovery process continues. Microsoft’s engineering team remains vigilant, actively monitoring the situation to mitigate any further disruptions.
