Asked by Ella

what are recent examples of product extinction as in products that companies have recently discontinued/retired

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Do you mean “recent” as in the last year or two, or more broadly (last 3–5 years)? Any particular industries you care about (tech hardware, apps/services, consumer goods, auto, retail)?

If you want a quick sample now, here are several notable, well-documented product retirements from roughly the 2020–mid‑2024 period (I’m current through June 2024):

- Google Stadia (cloud gaming service) — shut down January 18, 2023. Google cited low user adoption and high infrastructure costs.
- Apple iPod Touch — discontinued in May 2022, marking the effective end of Apple’s iPod product line as listening shifted to iPhone and streaming.
- Microsoft Internet Explorer (desktop browser) — retired June 15, 2022, with Microsoft directing users to Edge for compatibility and security.
- Samsung Galaxy Note line — effectively retired in 2021 as Samsung folded Note features (S Pen) into Galaxy S Ultra models and Foldables.
- Adobe Flash Player — officially end-of-life December 31, 2020; browsers and websites migrated away from Flash to modern web standards.
- Oculus Rift S (PC-tethered VR headset) — discontinued in 2021 as Meta prioritized standalone Quest headsets.
- Google Play Music — shut down in 2020 (users migrated to YouTube Music), part of Google’s consolidation of music services.
- Intel Optane consumer products — Intel wound down many Optane consumer product lines in the early 2020s as demand and strategy shifted (see Intel announcements through 2022–2023).
- Boeing 747 production — Boeing announced ending 747 production (program ramping down in the early 2020s), marking the sunset of an iconic aircraft line.
- Toys “R” Us (original chain) — the U.S. stores closed during/after bankruptcy (2017–2018); the brand has since been revived under different ownership — an example of an original product/retailer line being discontinued and later reimagined.

If you tell me the timeframe or sectors you want, I’ll compile a longer, sourced list (software-as-a-service, consumer electronics, autos, food/drink SKUs, retail closures, etc.) and include dates and reasons for retirement.