Microsoft is opening up its personal app retailer in Home windows even additional at this time, inviting third-party app shops to combine into the Microsoft Retailer. It’s a big change that can see each Amazon and Epic Video games Retailer discoverable within the Microsoft Retailer within the coming months.
“Similar to another app, third-party storefront apps can have a product element web page — which will be discovered by way of search or by searching — in order that customers can simply discover and set up it with the identical confidence as another app within the Microsoft Retailer on Home windows,” explains Giorgio Sardo, normal supervisor of the Microsoft Retailer. “Right now, we’re sharing that Amazon and Epic Video games will deliver their storefront apps to the Microsoft Retailer over the following few months, and we stay up for welcoming different shops as properly sooner or later.”
The information comes months after Microsoft introduced some main modifications to the Microsoft Retailer. Not solely is the shop being overhauled for Home windows 11 and finally Home windows 10, however Microsoft will even let builders hold 100% of the income from apps in the event that they use various cost platforms. The one exception is that this doesn’t apply to video games.
It additionally comes after head of Home windows and units, Panos Panay, revealed to The Verge in June that Microsoft is open to Steam and different third-party shops being a part of its new Home windows 11 app retailer. “I actually need this expertise the place you go to the shop, you sort the app in, and also you get the app you need,” stated Panay earlier this yr.
Whereas Steam isn’t on the record simply but, it might nonetheless arrive sooner or later. Microsoft’s dedication to being an “open Retailer for an open platform” will now permit for any third-party storefront apps to be listed within the Microsoft Retailer on Home windows. That doesn’t imply separate apps and video games from rival shops will probably be discoverable and installable, however the storefront apps will probably be listed in search outcomes.
The one distinction right here is with Microsoft’s partnership with Amazon. Microsoft is bringing Android apps to Home windows 11, and that features the power to find and search the Amazon Appstore immediately from throughout the Microsoft Retailer. A preview of this integration will probably be obtainable for Home windows Insiders quickly.
Microsoft’s extra open app retailer insurance policies have already had a huge impact on the Microsoft Retailer. Common apps like Discord, Zoom, VLC, TeamViewer, and Visible Studio Code are all now listed within the Microsoft Retailer. There are even Progressive Internet Apps (PWA) from Reddit, Wikipedia, TikTok, Tumblr, and extra. Any browser can now be listed within the Microsoft Retailer, too, and each Opera and Yandex Browser have taken benefit of Microsoft’s new insurance policies.
