In August, Microsoft stirred controversy by announcing changes to its OneDrive cloud storage. Photos in OneDrive galleries and stored photo albums would soon count separately toward the five-gigabyte limit. The update, set for release on October 16, faced backlash from users. Microsoft, responding to strong negative feedback, abandoned the plan.
Microsoft’s Shifting Storage Strategies
Microsoft’s recent actions reflect its efforts to manage resources, perhaps due to mounting losses from integrating AI into its products. Notably, on February 1, Microsoft modified its Outlook policy to include email attachments in the OneDrive quota. This change affected users who, upon reaching the limit, could no longer send or receive emails in Outlook until they reduced their file and attachment counts.
Similar Backpedaling in the Tech Industry
Microsoft isn’t alone in reversing decisions after customer backlash, notes NIX Solutions. Unity, for instance, introduced the controversial Runtime Fee pricing model but had to retract it following significant pushback from the game development community. Such incidents highlight the importance of listening to customers and valuing their feedback.