Microsoft Shuts Down Skype After Over 20 Years of Service

Microsoft shut down Skype on May 5, 2025, concluding over 20 years of communication services. Skype was once a staple among gamers since it provided quality voice call services; it was in an era before specialized gaming communication platforms existed, such as Discord and TeamSpeak. 

In an official Microsoft blog post announcing Skype’s death, the company stated it will now focus on Microsoft Teams, its modern communications and collaborations hub.

Microsoft explained the reasoning behind the refocus of their efforts: 

“With Teams, users have access to many of the same core features they use in Skype, such as one-on-one calls and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. Additionally, Teams offers enhanced features like hosting meetings, managing calendars, and building and joining communities for free.”

The tech company is moving current Skype users to Microsoft Teams, where users will be able to log in by connecting their Skype account to the newer platform. Skype users will be able to export their data, including chats, contacts and call history. 

Skype was initially released on Aug. 29, 2003. In the mid-2000s, Skype was widely used for communication and coordination among gamers, but it was displaced in the games market by apps that were created specifically for gaming. Skype’s decline in the market was also influenced by other competitors outside of gaming.