Microsoft lowers commission for PC games in download store to 12 percent

Microsoft wants to get more games in its download store for Windows and is therefore going to reduce the percentage that developers have to give up from 30 to 12 percent. That will take effect on August 1. The reduction only applies to PC games and not to Xbox consoles.

With the cut to 12 percent, developers will pay the same commission from Microsoft from August as they will at the Epic Games Store. According to Microsoft, there are no conditions attached to the lower commission and developers can therefore also release their games on other platforms.

Valve still keeps 30 percent of developer revenue on Steam. With sales over $10 million, that’s 25 percent, and after $50 million, it drops to 20 percent, but Valve doesn’t go any lower.

Microsoft says it will lower the commission to “bring more games to more players” and “enable developers to be successful.” The company also says it’s committed to PC gaming, including developing games primarily for PC, including Flight Simulator, and bringing Xbox technologies to PC gamers, such as the Auto HDR feature and DirectStorage technology. .

According to Microsoft, the reliability of installations and the speed of downloads in the Store will improve in the coming months. More information about this should follow shortly. In a blog post, Microsoft realizes it has “a lot of work to do” to satisfy PC gamers, but the company thinks it’s on the right track. With its own Xbox Game Studios, the acquisition of Bethesda and Game Pass, Microsoft says it is “better positioned than ever” to serve both PC and console gamers.

For the time being, Microsoft does not mention a reduction of the commission for makers of other software. This is specifically for PC games. Also, the commission has not been reduced for Xbox games sold on consoles through the download store.

The Microsoft Store, previously known as the Windows Store, has never been a huge success, either for software or for games. Microsoft is also rumored to be working behind the scenes on a new app store, which will give developers more freedom and the ability to integrate third-party payment systems.

Games on the Microsoft Store