Microsoft's Windows Store is a digital distribution platform that allowed users to buy and download various games. A few months ago, the Windows storefront was completely reworked, with overall improvements given to its UI and app submission policies. The store has received several updates over the years when it released for Windows 10, with the latest update being one of the biggest. This latest change allows for third-party applications to be integrated into its storefront, which includes other storefronts. This change is supported with the fact that the Epic Games Store will be coming to this open platform.
The Epic Games Store is a PC gaming distribution giant, where a free game is given out for players to download and claim for a limited time. This occurs every week, with next week's Epic Games Store freebie revealed recently as well. It's a service that has quite a lot of value, considering that no subscription fees are required to maintain membership with the service, with the platform also adding more free games every week. With Microsoft allowing for third-party stores to be a part of the platform, the Epic Games Store is one of the first supporters of this change, alongside Amazon.
The general manager of the Windows Store, Giorgio Sardo, explains that the Epic Games Store and Amazon storefronts will be available as apps that are much like the ones currently on the platform, and will have their own product detail pages. This includes the ability to find and install the applications using the Microsoft store in the same vein as other utility or entertainment apps on there. The news of this platform opening up for third party stores was celebrated by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney who posted about the news on Twitter.
The reaction to the store coming to service has been rather mixed, based on the response to Sweeney's announcement. Some fans were skeptical of this, with some expressing their opinions on this being a bad move, while others were more open and accepting of this. Some even brought up the court case between Apple and Epic Games from earlier this year, where this partnership wouldn't need for cuts and allow for third-party payment options.
Regardless, this announcement will see the Epic Games Store coming to Microsoft's service in the near future, though there hasn't been a set date outlined yet. This open platform could even see other services like Steam be added in the future, as Microsoft's more open store app policies have seen popular apps like Discord, Zoom, and even Reddit listed in the Windows Store.