What Happened to Microsoft Corporation (and FoxPro)?

Microsoft Corporation, founded in 1975, has undergone significant transformations, from its early dominance in operating systems and office software to its current leadership in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. A notable chapter in its history involves the acquisition and eventual discontinuation of FoxPro, a powerful data-centric programming language.

FoxPro originated from Fox Software's FoxBASE in the mid-1980s, gaining a reputation for its speed and efficiency in database management. Microsoft acquired Fox Software in its entirety in 1992, a strategic move to bolster its position in the database market and integrate FoxPro's acclaimed Rushmore technology into its own offerings, such as Microsoft Access. Post-acquisition, FoxPro was rebranded as Visual FoxPro (VFP) and integrated into Microsoft's 'Visual' suite of development tools, with Visual FoxPro 3.0 being the first object-oriented version released in 1995.

However, as Microsoft shifted its focus towards newer development platforms like the .NET framework and more robust enterprise database solutions like SQL Server, Visual FoxPro's prominence began to wane. The company announced in March 2007 that Visual FoxPro 9.0, released in 2004, would be the final version, effectively ending active development. Mainstream support for VFP 9.0 concluded in January 2010, followed by the end of extended support on January 13, 2015, marking its official end-of-life. Despite its discontinuation, a small but dedicated user base continues to rely on VFP for critical legacy applications, facing challenges related to security, compatibility with modern operating systems, and a shrinking pool of skilled developers. As of April 2026, IT Jobs Watch recorded zero permanent UK job adverts citing FoxPro, highlighting the scarcity of new development in the language. Recently, in September 2026, a community effort emerged to revive FoxPro by porting its language to a new runtime (Rust compiled to WebAssembly), aiming to overcome limitations like the 2GB per-table limit and add modern features like JSON and HTTP server capabilities.

Meanwhile, Microsoft under CEO Satya Nadella, who took the helm in 2014, has strategically pivoted towards a 'cloud-first, AI-first' approach. This strategy has seen significant investment and growth in its Azure cloud platform and the integration of artificial intelligence across its product lines, including Microsoft 365 Copilot. Financially, Microsoft reported strong results for fiscal year 2026, with revenue reaching $331.8 billion and operating income at $155.2 billion, both increasing by 18% and 21% respectively. Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time in FY26, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats. The company's market capitalization stood at approximately $3.68 trillion as of September 2026, making it one of the world's most valuable companies.

Recent developments in 2026 include Microsoft's continued focus on AI strategy, releasing an 'AI Strategy Roadmap' for enterprises in July 2026 and an 'AI playbook' in September 2026, emphasizing workflow redesign and human-AI collaboration. The company also announced a new round of layoffs in its Xbox gaming division in September 2026, affecting 268 employees as part of a broader restructuring to address what Xbox's new CEO Asha Sharma described as an 'unsustainably bloated' business. In April 2026, Microsoft acquired Fintool, an AI copilot for equity research, demonstrating its ongoing acquisition strategy in the AI space. The company also took down the AI-powered EvilTokens phishing service in September 2026, showcasing its efforts in cybersecurity. Microsoft's pricing decisions, including the elimination of volume-based pricing tiers for Online Services, have been characterized by some analysts as an 'AI Tax' to fund its substantial AI infrastructure investments, leading to potential cost increases for enterprise customers by mid-2026.