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[Gamezone]

It looks like Microsoft have everything going at this point. xCloud on PC, iOS and Android (soon anyway), Gamepass for PC and console, and their own store. Why isn't Microsoft just letting every publisher and indie developer release their games on the Xbox PC store with achievements and optional cloud for Xbox/PC and Play Anywhere? As someone who's already invested into the Xbox and PC ecosystem it would be a great option.

 

[Skifi28]

I don't think they're stopping anyone from releasing games on their store. More like developers can't be bothered.

 

[reksveks]

I would like them to improve the microsoft store that they already have honestly or just work in a way that allows them to work with Gog Galaxy 2.0 a bit more. I haven't faced any of the bugs that other users have done but I know that store is disliked.

Games via the Xbox app does have achievements, no? I am sure i have some Wargroove ones from that release.

 

[Negotiator101]

I don't think they're stopping anyone from releasing games on their store. More like developers can't be bothered.

Gamepass is Microsoft's main focus, the store is more of an afterthought.

 

[Papacheeks]

Gamepass is Microsoft's main focus, the store is more of an afterthought.

The store has to be used for installation of said gamepass games. Speicifically for PC.

 

[Alexios]

They made it and it sucks, like every other time they tried it. So they went back to Steam. Just like Bethesda and EA. It's not exactly easy to do it without a real investment and commitment, as EGS also shows trying to make service, features and overall quality a bad_thing® because they cost

 

[Nikana]

Microsoft has tried and tried to get traction with their own store and it's never worked since WP7 and Windows 8.

They have accepted it's not gonna catch on and have pivoted to services.

 

[GHG]

The Xbox app is better than the EGS but still miles off Steam.

The question should be why do either of them think that it's ok to have launchers that are so far off Steam in terms of functionality in 2021.

 

[Gamezone]

The Xbox app is better than the EGS but still miles off Steam.

The question should be why do either of them think that it's ok to have launchers that are so far off Steam in terms of functionality in 2021.

I don't know. If you care about achievements and social features, the Xbox is way better in my opinion. The Steam UI hasn't improved much in years, and I'm not even gonna mention the Steam app for iOS and Android.

 

[Alright]

It looks like Microsoft have everything going at this point. xCloud on PC, iOS and Android (soon anyway), Gamepass for PC and console, and their own store.

All of those marketing buzzwords and no mention of xbox console.

MS haven't learned from their TvTvTv debacle then

 

[Werewolfgrandma]

They made it and it sucks, like every other time they tried it. So they went back to Steam. Just like Bethesda and EA. It's not exactly easy to do it without a real investment and commitment, as EGS also shows trying to make service, features and overall quality a bad_thing® because they cost

I find most to suck. I mean the windows one is terrible and steam is only good by comparison. I'm constantly saying WTF steam, I didn't set that.

 

[Warnen]

I’d say it’s up there with EGS for sure both suck ass.

 

[Holammer]

Microsoft tried with GFWL but failed to commit. The pattern repeated with Windows 10 Store which was another embarrassing mistake.
Maybe they'll have another shot at it later, but publishers and customers have long memories.

 

[ZywyPL]

Microsoft has tried and tried to get traction with their own store and it's never worked since WP7 and Windows 8.

They have accepted it's not gonna catch on and have pivoted to services.

This. They tried over and over again but ultimately failed to join the store marked, hence now all the games are released on Steam. The only way their store could become more popular is when first and foremost GP lures more and more users into XB ecosystem, otherwise most people won't see a singel reason to chose it above Steam, GOG etc.

 

[ethomaz]

Err they made.
Windows Store is competing with Steam for years... it just lacks features and have critical issue win the first years.

 

[alabtrosMyster]

There are plenty of games on it, but I suspect they aren't taken seriously (also, the windows store is broken for big downloads).

 

[Reality Czar]

Windows Store is absolute trash.

Microsoft is good at buying other companies but that’s about it.

 

[MeatSafeMurderer]

Why isn't Microsoft just letting every publisher and indie developer release their games on the Xbox PC store with achievements and optional cloud for Xbox/PC and Play Anywhere?

They probably are...but nobody in their right mind likes UWP, it's cancer.

 

[Topher]

Simply put, Steam is synonymous with PC gaming for most. Microsoft effectively acknowledged that by committing all their future first party games to Steam day one. I don't think it is crazy to speculate that Microsoft is probably making more money selling their games on Steam and giving Valve 30% of their revenue than Microsoft is making selling their games on Windows and keeping 100%. Just follow the money and you have your answer.

 

[GHG]

I don't know. If you care about achievements and social features, the Xbox is way better in my opinion. The Steam UI hasn't improved much in years, and I'm not even gonna mention the Steam app for iOS and Android.

The social features on Steam are superior and you get achievements along with trading cards that are essentially free money (albeit a tiny bit per card but they add up).

The only way you would think the social features and achievements are superior on the Xbox app is if you are coming at it from the perspective of someone who is (or was previously) a long term Xbox console user. In which case all of your "friends" will be there along with your gamerscore which you can continue to build on.

 

[SebastianShaw]

Taking Steam marketshare is nearly impossible

 

[Denton]

For some reason, Microsoft is wholly uninterested in making Windows Store not a steaming pile of garbage.

 

[MadPanda]

Microsoft has tried and tried to get traction with their own store and it's never worked since WP7 and Windows 8.

They have accepted it's not gonna catch on and have pivoted to services.

Of course it's not gonna catch on if it's half baked, incompetent store as their is. Especially when they pushed that failed UWP initiative. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out.if they made no nonsense store which had basic functions working as they should it would be much more popular.

 

[Hawking Radiation]

Why hasn't Phil Spencer done any cross dressing?
Just because you can do it don't make it a good fucking idea.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Taking Steam marketshare is nearly impossible

Yep I use GOG for instance but it's like an ant trying to move an elephant.
And to be honest Steam is pretty good. The whole community aspect that Steam has built over the last 15 years can't be copy pasted.

 

[Topher]

Why hasn't Phil Spencer done any cross dressing?
Just because you can do it don't make it a good fucking idea.

longdi disagrees

 

[Gamezone]

The social features on Steam are superior and you get achievements along with trading cards that are essentially free money (albeit a tiny bit per card but they add up).

The only way you would think the social features and achievements are superior on the Xbox app is if you are coming at it from the perspective of someone who is (or was previously) a long term Xbox console user. In which case all of your "friends" will be there along with your gamerscore which you can continue to build on.

I get more stats on each game on Xbox. In FIFA I can see how many goals I scored, level, tournaments won, and so on. Steam doesn't have this. Maybe it does, but devs don't use it.

 

[mxbison]

They have their own store and it's one of the worst pieces of shit software I've ever used.

It's so bad and broken that they had to make an Xbox PC app for the Gamepass users.

 

[Woo-Fu]

They did, and it is garbage. The simple fact you're not even aware that they did tells you everything you need to know. Not sure how you'd be a PC gamer and not know about Windows Store.

 

[reksveks]

WC weirdly dropped this story today



If you want a summary

According to my sources, there are three big changes coming to the new Store that will benefit developers:

Allow developers to submit unpackaged Win32 apps to the Store
Allow developers to host apps and updates on their own content delivery network (CDN)
Alllow developers to use third-party commerce platforms in apps

 

[ShirAhava]

I miss the days when Microsoft treated PC gaming like a red headed stepchild it didn't want

 

[pr0cs]

It's a shame, if there is ANY store on PC that should be good and fully featured it should be the Windows Store, but for whatever reason we're stuck with the turd that we have now. It's unreliable, often slow, nearly impossible to troubleshoot when it comes to download or transfer errors, is abysmal when it comes to updating software often failing and forcing the ENTIRE package download.

Even worse, when they build the xbox app (which is at least nice looking) to use the windows store as the back end, making the xbox app just as unreliable for managing software.

 

[DrumNBassDanTTV]

Why would they when all people do about these stores is bitch and moan?

 

[EverydayBeast]

Nintendo has the worst store and still dominates same with Sony if Microsoft wants to be a threat forget having a store lock up AAA games.

OP and me coming in:

 

[Hari Seldon]

MS always has some type of agenda when they do things. With GFWL it was trying to get PC players to pay for online. For Windows 10 it was that UWP horseshit. Why would anyone trust them? Gamepass is fine, it is upfront that you are just renting the games so when MS flakes out it is no loss on you. But actually purchasing something from a Windows Store? That is fucking crazy talk.

 

[Haggard]

Compare the abomination that is the Windows Store and its UWP to something like Steam...nuff said.

 

[Papacheeks]

WC weirdly dropped this story today



If you want a summary

According to my sources, there are three big changes coming to the new Store that will benefit developers:

Allow developers to submit unpackaged Win32 apps to the Store
Allow developers to host apps and updates on their own content delivery network (CDN)
Alllow developers to use third-party commerce platforms in apps

I feel that ship has sailed. Them doing this now is to me too little too late.

 

[TBiddy]

Compare the abomination that is the Windows Store to something like Steam...nuff said.

I think using the term "abomination" is being kind. It's much worse than that.

 

[LazyParrot]

People don't trust MS when it comes to game purchases, and for good reason. It's smart of them to focus on subscription services instead.
Someone who lost access to their games when MS euthanized the GFWL Store will probably never buy a full game on their store again, but he might very well buy a subscription.

 

[sjackso35]

Because they will use the Discord launcher assuming the deal goes through.

 

[TheDreadLord]

A new store front will most likely come when MS has a lot more active GamePass users on PC.

 

[ZoukGalaxy]

They did.

They tried multiple times.
They failed every single time.

 

[AlteredForms]

The whole problem with PC digital distribution is that it takes time to build not only a storefront but also a social platform. Steam is alright, but many would agree that it’s due to a lack of an alternative they stay there.

 

[GHG]

I get more stats on each game on Xbox. In FIFA I can see how many goals I scored, level, tournaments won, and so on. Steam doesn't have this. Maybe it does, but devs don't use it.

Are those stats tied to achievements? If they are then steam has them as well.

If they are stats that Xbox is tracking that are completely untied to achievements then that's something entirely different - those are activity and engagement stats.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

I hope it gets more so I can boost my gamerscore. I am hoping Fallout 3 and New Vegas get re-released in WIndows store with achievements. Doubtful, but I am hoping.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

Ugh, no-fucking-thanks. I'm happy they tried, failed, and seemingly accepted that failure. EGS is bad enough.

 

[Kuranghi]

Even if the games were half the price they were on Steam I wouldn't buy them on the Windows Store, thats how much I hate it for various nerd reasons. So unless the new store is not using UWP then its a non starter for me.

 

[Denton]

Wow, MS is actually working on a new store. And while it will still be UWP, the apps on it will no longer be required to, it seems:

According to my sources, there are three big changes coming to the new Store that will benefit developers:

Allow developers to submit unpackaged Win32 apps to the Store
Allow developers to host apps and updates on their own content delivery network (CDN)
Alllow developers to use third-party commerce platforms in apps


So if they miraculously make it not suck ass, maybe some developers and customers will actually use it.

 

[TTOOLL]

I mean, the store in W10 is utter trash...

 

[Esca]

This is a field ms has tried getting a foothold in multiple times and have given up on because they can't do it