What happened to myspace: The Rise, Fall, and Reinvention of Myspace

In the ever-evolving world of social media, few platforms have experienced the meteoric rise and dramatic fall of Myspace. Launched in 2003, Myspace was the first global social network to capture the imagination of millions, revolutionizing how people connected online. At its peak in 2008, it boasted 115 million unique monthly users worldwide, making it the undisputed king of social media. However, the emergence of Facebook and other platforms eventually overshadowed Myspace, leading to its decline. Yet, despite its fall from grace, Myspace hasn’t disappeared—it has reinvented itself in a niche that keeps it alive today. Let’s take a deep dive into the history, evolution, and current state of Myspace.

The Birth of a Social Media Giant

Myspace wasn’t the first social network, but it was the first to achieve global dominance. Preceded by platforms like Friendster, Myspace took the best features of its predecessors and enhanced them, creating a unique space for users to connect, express themselves, and share content. What set Myspace apart was its emphasis on personalization. Users could customize their profiles using basic HTML, add their favorite songs, and even rank their friends—a feature that became a cultural phenomenon.

By 2005, Myspace had become the fifth most-visited website in the world. Its rapid growth caught the attention of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, whose company, News Corp., acquired Myspace for a staggering $580 million. At the time, it seemed like a smart investment, as Myspace continued to innovate and expand its user base.

The Rise of Facebook and Myspace’s Decline

While Myspace was thriving, a new competitor was quietly gaining traction. Facebook, launched in 2004, offered a cleaner, more streamlined user experience. Myspace’s leadership had the opportunity to acquire Facebook early on for $75 million but passed, a decision that would later be seen as a missed opportunity. By 2009, Facebook had surpassed Myspace in monthly active users, marking the beginning of Myspace’s decline.

Several factors contributed to Myspace’s downfall:

User Experience: Facebook’s minimalist design and user-friendly interface appealed to a broader audience.
Privacy Concerns: Myspace’s open and customizable profiles raised security issues, while Facebook offered more control over privacy settings.
Shift in Focus: Myspace’s emphasis on music and entertainment alienated users seeking a more versatile social networking experience.

As users migrated to Facebook, Myspace struggled to retain its relevance. The platform underwent multiple ownership changes, each attempting to revive its fortunes.

Myspace’s Reinvention as a Music Platform

In 2011, Myspace was sold to Specific Media Group and pop icon Justin Timberlake for $35 million—a fraction of its previous valuation. Under Timberlake’s influence, Myspace shifted its focus from social networking to music discovery. The platform rebranded itself as a hub for artists and music lovers, allowing musicians to upload their tracks, share videos, and connect with fans.

This transformation marked a significant departure from Myspace’s original identity. While it no longer competed with Facebook or Instagram, it carved out a niche in the music industry. Today, Myspace operates as a music-centric platform, offering millions of tracks and videos from artists around the world.

Who Owns Myspace Now?

Myspace’s journey through various ownerships reflects its struggle to stay relevant:

2005: Acquired by News Corp. for $580 million.
2011: Sold to Specific Media Group and Justin Timberlake for $35 million.
2018: Acquired by Time Inc. as part of its purchase of Viant (formerly Specific Media).
2019: Sold to Viant Technology LLC, which currently operates the platform.

Despite these changes, Myspace has managed to maintain a small but dedicated user base. As of 2021, the platform attracts around 15 million users, a far cry from its heyday but a testament to its enduring appeal.

What Does Myspace Look Like Today?

Modern-day Myspace is unrecognizable compared to its original form. The platform is now entirely focused on music, with social media features taking a backseat. Users can explore a vast library of songs, discover new artists, and create playlists. Interestingly, Myspace allows users to sign in with their Facebook accounts to find friends—a nod to its past and a reminder of how the tables have turned.

While Myspace no longer dominates the social media landscape, it has found a unique identity as a music discovery platform. Its ability to adapt and reinvent itself is a testament to its resilience.

Lessons from Myspace’s Journey

Myspace’s rise and fall offer valuable lessons for the tech industry and social media enthusiasts:

Innovation is Key: Myspace’s early success was driven by its innovative features, but its failure to keep up with evolving user preferences led to its decline.
User Experience Matters: Facebook’s focus on simplicity and privacy resonated with users, highlighting the importance of a seamless experience.
Adapt or Fade Away: Myspace’s transformation into a music platform demonstrates the importance of adapting to changing market dynamics.

The Legacy of Myspace

Myspace may no longer be the social media giant it once was, but its impact on the digital landscape is undeniable. It paved the way for modern social networks and introduced features that are now standard across platforms. While its reinvention as a music discovery site has kept it alive, Myspace’s legacy lies in its role as a pioneer of online connectivity.

For those who remember its golden era, Myspace remains a nostalgic reminder of the early days of social media. And for new users, it offers a unique space to explore music and connect with artists. Whether as a relic of the past or a niche platform, Myspace continues to hold a place in the ever-changing world of the internet.

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Entertainment

Nintendo is preparing to retire the Switch

by George Mensah 2025-11-06

Nintendo is officially moving into a new era. In its just-posted financial results briefing, the gaming giant confirmed that it’s shifting its main development efforts to the Nintendo Switch 2, a decisive move away from the original 2017 Switch that rebooted the company’s fortunes.

“Going forward, we will shift our primary development focus to Nintendo Switch 2 and expand our business around this new platform,” Nintendo said during its briefing.

The announcement effectively signals that the Nintendo Switch’s eight-year reign is beginning to wind down, even if the company isn’t ready to retire the console completely just yet.

Switch Still in Stores, But Support Will Gradually Fade

Nintendo pointed out that it would also continue to sell the original Switch hardware for the foreseeable future, adjusting its production and marketing strategy “in line with consumer demand and business conditions.” But the writing is on the wall: as developers shift their focus, new releases for the older system will inevitably slow.

The company sought to reassure fans that various major titles were still planned for the Switch, with launches from October onwards: these may include final first-party releases or updates to existing franchises aimed at keeping the system’s large player base engaged as the next generation gains momentum.

Sell Switch 2 Off to a Strong Start

Off to an amazing start despite still having a few months into its lifecycle, the Nintendo Switch 2 has already sold over 10.36 million units worldwide since its launch back in June, according to data from Nintendo.

Notably, 84 percent of buyers were existing Switch owners — a clear sign that the new console is attracting loyal fans upgrading to the next generation rather than drawing in entirely new users. While that number still represents a fraction of the original Switch’s staggering 154 million lifetime sales, the company says it’s observing a “uniform migration” toward the newer platform.

This is in line with what has been happening in all major console transitions: early adoption is driven by the existing user base before the wider audience starts buying.

The Legacy of the Nintendo Switch

When the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, it marked a revolutionary hybrid console that combined handheld portability with the more traditional style of home gaming. It quickly became one of Nintendo’s most successful systems to date, revitalizing the company from underperforming sales of the Wii U and an era-defining lineup of games that included The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The versatility and affordability of the system helped it capture an immense audience worldwide, crossing over 154 million units in lifetime sales, making it the third-best-selling console in history after the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS.

What’s Next for the Switch 2

While Nintendo has not talked about all the technical details of Switch 2, reports and leaks indicate that it has a more powerful chipset, faster loading times, and increased graphical capabilities-all of which would draw Nintendo closer to the level of visual fidelity shown in their competitors, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

This generational shift is pivotal for Nintendo-a balance between paying homage to a record-breaking legacy and forging ahead with innovation. While the company has managed transitions quite well in the past, with the original Switch still performing well in markets such as Japan and Europe, Nintendo faces the challenge of gradually sunsetting one of its most beloved consoles without alienating its vast player community. The message, as the Switch 2 gains even more momentum, is clear: the future of Nintendo is already here — and it’s building on the base of one of the most successful consoles ever made.

There are also rumors that the backward compatibility will be improved, allowing existing Switch owners to carry forward their digital libraries. With a larger OLED display combined with an enhanced Joy-Con design, the new console seems set to deliver performance and comfort upgrades in equal measure.

Analysts anticipate the Switch 2 will be the leader of the 2025 gaming cycle, especially with expected first-party games such as Metroid Prime 4, The Legend of Zelda sequel projects, and maybe new Mario entries already in development for the console.

Entertainment

Xbox may need Halo on PlayStation to thrive

by George Mensah 2025-10-29

A few years ago, the idea that Halo — the game that is synonymous with Xbox’s brand name — would be making a move to a PlayStation console would have been something akin to a parallel universe. But in 2025, that extremely unlikely truth is playing itself out. What was the pinnacle of the exclusivity of Xbox is now the most glaring sign that Microsoft’s gaming division is undergoing a ginormous transformation — one driven by survival, strategy, and the changing nature of the gaming industry.

From Locked Walls to Open Doors

Xbox’s previously locked-down environment is collapsing quickly. The company has been systematically knocking down its walls of exclusivity, inviting its biggest franchises into competition. What once was an experiment with smaller titles like Grounded and Pentiment on Nintendo Switch and Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves on PlayStation 5 has turned into a risky, multi-platform gamble.

Now, Microsoft’s biggest franchises — Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Gears of War, and soon Halo — are not just “Xbox games.” They’re trans platform, cross-device gaming experiences.

It’s not really a software change but a change on what Xbox is in 2025. As Xbox executive Sarah Bond told Mashable, “The biggest games in the world are available everywhere. The idea of locking games to one store or one device is antiquated for most people.”

And she’s right — accessibility is the way to success. Sony’s report of May sales shows that Xbox-published titles like Indiana Jones, The Elder Scrolls V: Oblivion Remastered, and Forza Horizon 5 topped the highest downloads on PlayStation 5. Even Microsoft-owned games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Minecraft top charts across platforms.

The Business Behind the Shift

The transition away from Xbox consoles is not philosophical — it’s practical. Xbox hasn’t been able to compete with PlayStation and Nintendo in console hardware sales. Subscription growth of Xbox Game Pass has crested, and the formerly bright hope of “Netflix for games” is vanishing in the face of saturation and rising cost.

Even as it is, American tariff policies are driving console costs higher, turning the earlier trend of hardware getting cheaper by the day on its head. In an era where customers are prioritizing utility over entertainment indulgences, Microsoft’s Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming initiatives become lifelines — allowing players to experience games on devices they already own.

“We’re trying to meet people where they are,” said Matt Booty, president of Xbox Game Content and Studios, in a New York Times interview. That means making Xbox more than a console — it’s a brand that spans PCs, TVs, mobile devices, and rival systems.

But comfort for die-hards is that Xbox isn’t abandoning hardware altogether. Bond suggested that the next-gen console will be “a very premium, high-end curated experience.” As Microsoft launched its pricey ROG Ally handhelds, it’s clear that the company remains committed to keeping one foot firmly in the high-end gaming market.

Trouble Beneath the Surface

But beneath this high-flying reorganization, Xbox is in turmoil. The company has shut down a number of studios, including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks — the former being the developer of fan favorite Hi-Fi Rush. High-profile titles like Perfect Dark and Everwild have been quietly canceled, and Fable’s much-hyped reboot has been delayed until 2026.

Even Halo Infinite, the one that was meant to reignite the franchise, failed critically and commercially. And so, now that the original Halo franchise is being released on PlayStation in an enhanced form, the fans cannot help but wonder: is this an expansion or a white flag?

Simultaneously, The Elder Scrolls VI persists in development purgatory six years after it was first revealed, and Fallout — with renewed hype due to Amazon’s hit TV show adaptation — has not seen a significant new game release in years. Todd Howard’s promise that Fallout 5 is “eventually coming” fails to assuage the skepticism.

Internal Strains and Image Problems

A recent Bloomberg article discovered that Microsoft set its gaming division a disputed 30% profit margin target, leading to unpopular actions such as increasing Game Pass prices and shutting down various studios.

The company’s new ROG Ally handhelds, priced at $600 to $1,000, have also been panned as too pricey and half-baked. Ironically enough, during a company town hall meeting, Booty highlighted “smaller, prestige games that win awards” — the day after shutting down the studio responsible for one of the handful of games that fit that description.

Microsoft has also been criticized for its global reputation. The firm was targeted by the BDS movement for alleged ties to Israeli defense practices and was confronted by worker demonstrations over its AI transactions with the Israeli regime. Perhaps most recently, Xbox’s Halo franchise found itself embroiled in scandal when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security used its imagery in a highly criticized ICE recruitment ad — an ad that Microsoft declined to comment on.

The Future of Xbox: Platform Over Console

Despite all the madness, Halo’s PlayStation debut isn’t the death of Xbox — it’s a redefinition of what Xbox is in 2025. Old-school “console war” among Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft is over. The real war now is in time and attention — with platforms like TikTok, Fortnite, Roblox, and YouTube battling for large slices of gamers’ free time.

Microsoft’s new strategy welcomes that reality: to survive, Xbox must succeed everywhere. And that means embracing its competitors instead of fighting them.

So yes, seeing Master Chief — the iconic mascot of Xbox — on a PlayStation screen is surreal. But it is also representative of an industry evolving beyond old boundaries.

As the new chapter in gaming is written, Microsoft’s agility can be its salvation. Xbox will not perhaps capture the hardware war, but in the battle for the attention of gamers, it is positioning itself to stay in the game for many a long year to come.

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