History of Microsoft Store in Timeline

The Microsoft Store is Microsoft's digital distribution platform. Initially created for Windows 8 to distribute Universal Windows Platform apps, it evolved into a unified store with Windows 10 (version 1803). It distributes apps, console games, and digital videos. Previously, it also included digital music until the end of 2017 and e-books until 2019.

November 2008: Windows Marketplace discontinued and Microsoft Store opens

In November 2008, Microsoft discontinued Windows Marketplace and opened a web-based storefront called "Microsoft Store".

September 13, 2011: Windows Store announced

On September 13, 2011, Microsoft announced Windows Store, a digital distribution service for Windows, during the Build developer conference.

February 2012: Windows Store available on Consumer Preview

In February 2012, the Windows Store became available with the release of the "Consumer Preview" of Windows 8.

December 2012: Content policy amended to allow PEGI 18 content

In December 2012, the Microsoft Store's content guidelines were amended to remove the discrepancy that initially banned PEGI "18"-rated content from the store in Europe.

2012: Microsoft Store not installed by default on Windows Server 2012

In 2012, The Microsoft Store is not installed by default in Windows Server 2012.

January 1, 2015: Microsoft Store cut change

On January 1, 2015, Microsoft removed the previous policy of reducing its cut to 20% after a developer's profits reached $25,000, and started taking a 30% cut of all app purchases.

2015: Apps available on the store

In 2015, over 669,000 apps were available on the Microsoft Store.

January 12, 2016: Windows 8 RTM unsupported

Per Microsoft lifecycle policies, on January 12, 2016, the RTM version of Windows 8 became unsupported.

2016: Microsoft Studios games distributed exclusively via Microsoft Store

From 2016, most Microsoft Studios games ported to PC were distributed exclusively via Microsoft Store.

June 2017: Spotify available in the Windows Store

In June 2017, Spotify became available in the Windows Store.

September 2017: Windows Store rebranded as Microsoft Store

In September 2017, Microsoft began to re-brand Windows Store as Microsoft Store, with a new icon carrying the Microsoft logo, and the Xbox Store was merged into it.

October 2, 2017: End of digital music sales on Microsoft Store announced

On October 2, 2017, Microsoft announced that the sale of digital music on the Microsoft Store would cease on December 31.

2017: Multimedia content phased out

In 2017, a range of multimedia content (music, books, movies) were gradually being phased out on the Microsoft Store.

2017: Digital music removed

In 2017, digital music was removed from the Microsoft Store.

January 31, 2018: Users allowed to transfer music to Spotify until January 31, 2018

Users were able to transfer their music to Spotify until January 31, 2018.

February 2018: Progressive Web Apps available in Microsoft Store

In February 2018, Microsoft announced that Progressive Web Apps would begin to be available in the Microsoft Store, with Microsoft automatically adding selected apps or allowing developers to submit them.

April 2, 2019: End of e-book sales on Microsoft Store announced

On April 2, 2019, Microsoft announced that the sale of e-books on the Microsoft Store had ceased.

May 2019: Microsoft ends exclusivity for PC games in store

In May 2019, Microsoft abandoned its strategy of distributing most Microsoft Studios games ported to PC exclusively via Microsoft Store, amid criticism of limitations faced by UWP-based games.

July 1, 2019: Updates unavailable for Windows 8 RTM users

On July 1, 2019, updates to apps published on the Microsoft Store became unavailable to Windows 8 RTM users.

October 8, 2020: Microsoft announces fairness principles for developers

On October 8, 2020, Microsoft announced a commitment to ten "principles" of fairness to developers in the operation of the Microsoft Store.

August 1, 2021: Microsoft Store cut change

As of August 1, 2021, Microsoft only takes a 12% cut of app sales in the Microsoft Store. Third-party transactions are also allowed, of which Microsoft does not take a cut.

2021: Apps available in the store

In 2021, there were 669,000 apps available in the Microsoft Store, with "Books and Reference", "Education", "Entertainment", and "Games" as the categories containing the largest number of apps.