Rumor: Windows 10 gets new app store with more freedom for developers

Microsoft is working on a major overhaul of its app store in Windows 10, according to sources from Windows Central. The new version would give developers much more freedom. For example, old Win32 apps could be in the store without modification.

The new Microsoft Store for apps is much freer for both users and developers, according to Windows Central. Site sources cite three major changes. Developers should be able to upload Win32 apps to the new Store without modification. That would make it much easier for many developers to get their existing apps into the Store environment.

In addition, developers would be allowed to host updates and content for the apps on their own content delivery networks. A browser such as Firefox would be able to receive updates via a Mozilla CDn without going through the Microsoft Store.

Finally, Microsoft would allow developers to use third-party payment options in apps, without claiming a share of the revenue. This would make Microsoft very different from other app stores, such as those of Apple and Google, which force developers to use the payment options they offer and claim a part of the turnover in this way.

With the changes, Microsoft would like to revive the Store in Windows. So far, that software store has not been a great success. Many popular paid and free programs can’t be found through the Store, because developers probably don’t see any benefits in that.

Windows Central sources say the new Store app is another UWP app and will receive monthly updates with new features. The retail environment should also receive a major visual update and be more stable for downloading and installing major applications and games.

The new Store is expected to appear at the end of this year, when the Sun Valley version of Windows 10 is also expected, with which Microsoft wants to usher in a ‘new generation’ of the operating system. Microsoft is rumored to be bringing many of its own apps to the Store, including Teams, Office, Edge and Visual Studio.

Microsoft has not yet announced any changes to the Store in Windows. Perhaps that will happen at the Microsoft Build 2021 conference that will take place digitally from May 25-27.

The current Microsoft Store in Windows 10