Last August, Microsoft finally confirmed earlier rumors by announcing that the Xbox One would be usable as a digital video recorder sometime in 2016. Now, it seems Microsoft is giving up those plans.

"After careful consideration, we've decided to put development of DVR for over-the-air TV on hold to focus our attention on launching new, higher fan-requested gaming experiences across Xbox One and Windows 10," a Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge in a statement. "We're always listening to fan feedback and we look forward to bringing more requested experiences on Xbox One, Windows 10, and Xbox Live this year."

As originally announced, the feature would have been limited to over-the-air broadcasts received through the system's optional antenna USB dongle, and it wouldn't have worked with cable and/or satellite broadcasts taken through the built-in HDMI input. Users would have had to store shows on an external USB hard drive rather than the system's internal storage, and they would have been able to stream or download recordings to other mobile devices or Windows PCs.

Those potential implementation details are all moot now, though. While built-in DVR functions would have helped further differentiate the Xbox One from Sony's PlayStation 4, the feature never seemed like a totally natural fit for an Xbox platform that sells and rents hundreds of TV shows and movies to users directly (not to mention that it features a number of video streaming apps ).

In any case, the cancellation continues a decline in Microsoft's focus on the Xbox One's general media capabilities that has been apparent ever since the system's game-light, TV-heavy unveiling in early 2013. With rumors of a smaller, cheaper, streaming-focused Xbox One that might be announced at next week's electronic Entertainment Expo, though, that trend might be set to change a bit.