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.
Microsoft and OpenAI have reached a new agreement, granting Microsoft 27% ownership of OpenAI and access to AI models until 2032. This deal allows OpenAI to restructure, strengthening the partnership between the two companies.
In November 2008, Microsoft discontinued Windows Marketplace and opened a web-based storefront called "Microsoft Store".
On September 13, 2011, Microsoft announced Windows Store, a digital distribution service for Windows, during the Build developer conference.
In February 2012, the Windows Store became available with the release of the "Consumer Preview" of Windows 8.
In 2012, The Microsoft Store is not installed by default in Windows Server 2012.
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.
Per Microsoft lifecycle policies, on January 12, 2016, the RTM version of Windows 8 became unsupported.
From 2016, most Microsoft Studios games ported to PC were distributed exclusively via Microsoft Store.
In June 2017, Spotify became available in the Windows Store.
On October 2, 2017, Microsoft announced that the sale of digital music on the Microsoft Store would cease on December 31.
In 2017, a range of multimedia content (music, books, movies) were gradually being phased out on the Microsoft Store.
Users were able to transfer their music to Spotify until January 31, 2018.
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.
On April 2, 2019, Microsoft announced that the sale of e-books on the Microsoft Store had ceased.
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.
On July 1, 2019, updates to apps published on the Microsoft Store became unavailable to Windows 8 RTM users.
On October 8, 2020, Microsoft announced a commitment to ten "principles" of fairness to developers in the operation of the Microsoft Store.
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.
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.
Per Microsoft lifecycle policies, on January 10, 2023, the Windows 8.1 Update reached the end of its extended support.
On June 30, 2023, updates to apps published on the Store became unavailable to Windows 8.1 users.
On July 18, 2025, Microsoft announced the closure of its Movies & TV storefront after 12 years of operations.
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