Sora Is Shutting Down—And Users Could Lose Everything
Sora, OpenAI's video generation platform, will shut down, the company announced in a post on X.
We’re saying goodbye to the Sora app. To everyone who created with Sora, shared it, and built community around it: thank you. What you made with Sora mattered, and we know this news is disappointing.
— Sora (@soraofficialapp) March 24, 2026
We’ll share more soon, including timelines for the app and API and details on…
How to Make Sure You Don't Lose Your Sora Videos
The company didn't provide any further information on when the app will shut down or what will happen to users' data. However, they stated they would provide a timeline as well as "details on preserving your work."
In the meantime, the only way to ensure that your videos of dead celebrities saying swear words don't suddenly disappear is to download them individually through the Sora app or web interface. There is not currently a way to batch download Sora videos, so you'll have to go through them all individually.
Why Is OpenAI Shutting Down Sora?
OpenAI didn't give a specific reason for shutting down the popular app, but the company's CEO did speak on it to The Information. He told the outlet the company was shifting its resources to focus on its next AI model, Spud, amid increased competition. "Employees had complained [Sora] was a drag on the company's computing resources," the report read.
CNBC also theorized that the company trying its best to consolidate and rein in costs to prepare for a potential IPO. In addition to shuttering Sora, OpenAI also announced it would end its Instant Checkout feature, as well as combine its Atlas browser, ChatGPT, and Codex apps into one.
Disney Pulls $1 Billion Deal With OpenAI
As a result of Sora's shutdown, Disney pulled out of its $1 billion deal to license its characters for use in the app.
“As the nascent AI field advances rapidly, we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation business and to shift its priorities elsewhere,” a spokesperson for Disney said, per The Hollywood Reporter. “We appreciate the constructive collaboration between our teams and what we learned from it, and we will continue to engage with AI platforms to find new ways to meet fans where they are while responsibly embracing new technologies that respect IP and the rights of creators.”