OpenAI announced it's shutting down its Sora video generation app and related API service, marking a sudden end to the AI video platform. The company posted on X that it would share shutdown timelines later, but for now, Sora is discontinued in both consumer and developer offerings. An OpenAI spokesperson told Engadget the move allows the team to focus on world simulation research for robotics.

While the closure surprised some users, warning signs emerged earlier this year. After briefly topping US App Store charts following its October debut, Sora's popularity quickly faded. Analytics from Appfigures showed month-over-month declines in new installs and user spending starting in January 2026. The app saw a 32 percent drop in December downloads compared to November, bucking typical holiday season growth patterns.

The shutdown aligns with OpenAI's strategic pivot toward enterprise customers and professional tools. Since releasing GPT-5.2 as a response to Google's Gemini 3 Pro, OpenAI has targeted coders and data analysts for profitability. However, the closure carries a significant financial hit: Disney is backing out of a deal that would have brought Disney characters to Sora and ChatGPT, withdrawing a planned $1 billion investment into the platform.