JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Hulu, a popular streaming service platform owned by Disney, is set to officially shut down this year as a standalone app plans to merge with the Disney+ app.
While Disney has not given an official date for when the standalone app will be shut down and merged, video game company Nintendo has announced it will be discontinuing the Hulu app for its Nintendo Switch consoles on Thursday, Feb. 5.
Since the announcement back in October 2025, all entertainment content within the app, including Hulu exclusive films and television series, are to be moved directly into the Disney+ app.
The move stems from Disney’s plans to provide an interconnected and cohesive experience when navigating through the brand’s streaming services, providing users easier navigation for browsing different content. The company fully acquired all rights to Hulu back in June, the acquisition part of Disney’s contract of purchasing 21st Century Studios (formerly 21st Century Fox) in 2019.
Hulu first began in 2007 as a joint creation between NBC Universal and News Corporation. Once becoming publicly available in 2008, it quickly grew into a popular streaming platform for subscribers to use when tuning in to watch various movies and TV series. Even after Disney’s acquisition, Hulu housed over 55 million subscribers worldwide in 2025, making it among the top platforms used in today’s era of streaming services. Meanwhile, Disney+ houses nearly 125 million current subscribers, the number now set to triple following the merging between both it and Hulu beginning this month.