Microsoft rumored to be buying...... [2020-04, 2020-07, 2020-11]

Windows running on x64/x86 is an open platform. On ARM, Xbox, Mobile, Windows is closed.

MS has no say on what you do with your system and what you install on it. Nothing needs to be verified.

Anyone is free to author, distribute, and advertise programs for Windows (x86/x64), there are no developer fees, licensing fees, submission processes, or restrictions on what software does or how long it needs to be supported for or whether it even works.

 

Yo dawg. I heard you like stores. So we put stores in our store.

In all seriousness, this was soft announced when Windows 11 was announced and they showed off Android apps running in Windows. They specifically said Amazon App Store would be integrated into the Windows store for a place to get apps. I would assume you could also just double click on a .apk but that hasn't been confirmed I don't think.

 

Yes it was, which is why I'm surprised anyone is arguing against it being open.

 

Windows is proprietary meaning Microsoft can change it however they like. You may recall they fumbled a bit with UWP initially, indicating certain APIs would be limited to UWP - meaning other APIs were deprecated. The security model restrictions for Windows 11 are also a bit of a head-scratcher in places.

Open does not mean it cannot change. Microsoft change Windows and their platform strategies to suit their bottom line. Just like all companies.

Forever everybody not seeing the issue, the purpose of monopoly regulation is to prevent the creation of massive monopolies or overly reduce consumer freedom. Having the worlds largest software retail platform not be independent from Microsoft would do that. Valve would not longer need to compete with Windows Store and vice-versa. Less competition is not good for consumers.

 

I can install whatever I want on Windows ARM machines, they just have to support arm. So i'd most likely blame the company that isn't providing arm support. There also is no more windows mobile.

Xbox is the only closed system that runs I guess a heavily modified windows. But its also the only platform that MS subsidizes.

 

@DSoup We see your issue, just that some of us don't agree with it being monopolistic or that less competition is automatically bad for consumers. Personally I don't see many monopoly issues in the computer/tech industries. I also believe different cultures(US vs Europe) have different views on the matter. Being in the US I tend to disagree with premptive European regulations with regard to the computer/tech industries. I say let them innovate organically & deal with them later if it becomes a severe enough problem. If Microsoft & Valve want to merge their stores, then I say "no problem".

Tommy McClain

 

The important thing that wasn't entirely known at the time was that any storefront can opt to be in the Windows Storefront. That was the important bit in their recent announcement. It could have been an Amazon exclusive deal.

MS has even extended an invitation for Steam to have their storefront in the Windows Store if they wish. And like EGS, since Valve has their own payment processing options, Microsoft would collect Zero fees from anything sold through their storefront if it was on the Windows Store.

IMO, while this move by MS means it's voluntarily reducing it's ability to monetize software transactions through the Windows Store it's likely being done with an eye towards making Windows more secure. No need to worry about someone say, downloading EGS through a spoofed website or through a user mistyping the URL and downloading the EGS installer from some shady website. There's likely other potential security benefits for the Storefronts existing in what is presumably more secure containers within Windows.

And for Storefronts that don't trust Microsoft, they don't have to have their storefront in the Windows Store. They can continue to do business as usual.

Regards,
SB

 

All this Valve talk - They'd be one company I'd absolutely want to not end up with MS, however unlikely that this. That partnership offers nothing to me as a gamer. Valve aren't struggling for resources. An MS purchase wouldn't make HL3 happen sooner and wouldn't encourage stuff like Index and the Deck.

 

Agreed. I'm not excited for MS to buy Valve at all.

The biggest realistic acquisition I can think of would be Take 2. Ubisoft isn't realistic (Guillemot family) and EA is too tied to other IPs they don't own [NFL, FIFA, Star Wars, etc...]

The one I'd like to see the most would be Sega, but the Japanese regulators might have something to say about that.

Some of the WB teams, IO and Eidos seem the most realistic to me though.

 

I'd still put that in the stranger things have happened category. All it takes is for the family to change their collective minds.

 

What about Focus Home Interactive?

 

I can see that happening. Honestly, there are probably more than a few European developers or publishers that might be worth snagging for the IP rights alone. Focus, Daedalic, Crytek or Frogwares. Ones like that where you get some experienced teams and a handful of IP.

 

Apple Store and Google Play store are much larger software retail platforms, even if you just restrict them to games. They're frequently considered part of the same market by courts looking at these issues. Playstation (retail and digital) is pretty close in size to Steam too. So there's still plenty of competition.

So I'm not sure that Valve and Windows store not competing with each other means much (not that I think Valve should view the windows store as competition in the first place given its market power).

 

I see your point about Steam Deck, but in a hypothetical acquisition situation, I can't see anyone who would purchase valve not want to leverage their most valuable videogame IP by making a Half-Life sequel ASAP. Even if it isn't made by an internal Valve team.

 

I'm not I'd want anyone else doing HL3. It needs Valve to do their thing on it for me. Arkane do have some history there though!

 

People overestimate the value of Half Life IP. The whole Fortnite generation has no idea what is it even and the future gens even less.

The only thing I want from Valve and Microsoft is a lightweight Windows 11 image for Steam Deck. I would buy in heartbeat.

 

I don't fully agree. A lot of older gamers are still half life fans , alex was so sort after that they modded a vr game to work as a regular game. So I think there could be massive interested from the older game base. They might not drop fortnite money but it can still become a huge multimillion seller if not more if a new one was to drop.

 

Yes its prolly true, in the other thread (about bluepoint now being part of sony) there was a tweet just under it of god of war being voted the best game of all time (Ive never played any god of war game, but I have large doubts this is any where close to being true)
anyways there was a followup tweet

Rise of tomb raider > HL2

Just shows you what was big a decade or 2 ago can quickly become forgotten

 

I can't take any list like that seriously considering civ isn't in the top 5 and there are no ultima games. But anyway. All it takes is a crowd still liking a game enough to make it a success and then it will blow up to the larger audience. Look at the excitement for diablo 2 and wow classic. There was even enough excitement for Shenmue to get a third funded and I have no doubt if it was an amazing game it would have reignited the dormant franchise.