Microsoft quietly obsoletes official UFC app for Windows Phone, urges use of Xbox SmartGlass instead

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This weekend, UFC 163 featherweight bout is going down on your Xbox 360 (www.ufc.com/event/UFC163) as a pay-per view event and we’re stoked, stocking up on beer and pizza for the Saturday night event.

Normally around this time we would break out our trusty official UFC app for Windows Phone, which lets you view all the upcoming fight cards, stats and it even allows you to choose who you think the winners will be (and by which method). That info could then be shared with your friends for friendly competition adding a unique social networking feature to the otherwise brutal showdown.

Last night though, we fired up the app only to be met with the above images. In essence, the app has now been officially discontinued with no plans on making a replacement for Windows Phone. Considering we’ve has zero tips on this, we’re going to guess that not many of you were using the app, which is why it’s being killed off. Regardless, despite the lack of updates, we rather liked the prospect of an official UFC app and saw a lot of potential with it.

So what do you use instead? Microsoft is advocating that you opt for their Xbox SmartGlass method as an alternative. When you purchase the HD ($54) version of a UFC fight, you get automatic Xbox SmartGlass support to enhance the experience. There’s nothing quite like breaking out Surface for some second-screening during the prize fights. The Xbox SmartGlass shows live hit counts across all levels and fighter stats, giving users more info than what is on their TV.

While that is all well and good, the feature has never worked on Windows Phone itself. Microsoft notes that the SmartGlass experience for Windows Phone is “coming soon”, but it’s been like that for months and months now. We’re unsure if it will be ready by this Saturday, but we’re not holding our breath. That means that Windows Phone users are now lacking any official UFC interaction via their smartphones with this double blow. Even if SmartGlass does work, it still omits those fighter cards and the ability to pick your winners, competing against your friend’s selection.

Hopefully Microsoft and the UFC will come up with a better solution, but for now, it’ll just be beer, TV and Surface with SmartGlass for UFC 163 this weekend. Need some MMA Windows Phone apps? Check out our mini-roundup from earlier in the year.

UFC 163 takes place on Saturday August 3rd, at 10PM ET/7PM PT with 12 fights scheduled

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Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.