Microsoft permanently shutters physical stores

Microsoft will permanently close its 83 physical Microsoft Store retail locations, the company said. The closures will cost approximately $450 million during the quarter ending June 30, which includes primarily asset write-offs and impairments. Microsoft said in a release it will continue to invest in and grow in digital storefronts on Microsoft.com, Xbox and Windows, both in terms of software and hardware. It has added new services including one-on-one video chat support, online tutorial videos…