When you speak to people playing games on Windows 10, chances are you’ll hear how the Microsoft Store isn’t their favorite piece of software. Especially for gaming the store has been giving consumers and developers trouble. Most notably in the early days with Quantum Break, Forza Horizon 3 and Gears of War 4. But also after that, with the Store receiving bad press again when Phantasy Star Online 2 launched as a Microsoft Store exclusive on PC.
Today Windows Central revealed Microsoft is working on fixing the Store. Giving developers more options and removing some of the barriers that’s been hamstringing the Store for years.
According to Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, these changes are coming with the revamped store:
- Allow developers to submit unpackaged Win32 applications to the Microsoft Store
- Allow developers to host applications and updates on their own content delivery network
- Allow developers to use third-party commerce platforms in applications
The first one and second one are the most important. Since a few years video games launching on the Microsoft Store didn’t have to be Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications. They could be Win32 applications too. Most video games are Win32 applications. But, to have a Win32 application on the Microsoft Store developers had to package those applications, so they’d run in a container.
This means modding PC games on the Microsoft Store will become easier and fixing a problem with games will also become easier.
The second bullet point means developers and publishers can now choose their own delivery methods for video games on the Microsoft Store. Thus not having to rely on Microsoft’s content delivery network which has offered many issues in the past.
There are also rumours Microsoft will allow third party commerce platforms in applications. But it’s not clear yet if this will also happen for games.
The new Microsoft Store is set to launch this fall, not only for the newest versions of Windows 10, but also older ones.
Source: Windows Central
