As part of its overall Windows 11 push, Microsoft is partnering with Amazon to make its app store available for Windows devices. It’s a smart mo

Microsoft Wants Steam, Other Services in the Microsoft Store

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2021-07-11 08:00:05

As part of its overall Windows 11 push, Microsoft is partnering with Amazon to make its app store available for Windows devices. It’s a smart move for Microsoft. Windows x86 users will be able to buy Amazon mobile apps and run them via Intel Bridge technology. ARM and AMD-based systems will still be able to take advantage of the feature, and we assume (though this has not been confirmed) that Windows on ARM users who download apps from Amazon through the Microsoft Store will receive native binaries.

This is an interesting move for Microsoft with some clear analogs in mobile. ChromeOS can run Android apps and new M1-capable Macs can run iOS applications. According to the head of Windows and devices Panos Panay, the inclusion of Amazon is hopefully just the beginning. The Verge reports him as explicitly hoping other major storefronts, like the Epic Game Store and Steam, agree to be part of the Microsoft Store as well.

“Windows already in many ways hosts those stores, and if we can host it through the Microsoft Store then of course,” says Windows and device chief Panos Panay, in an interview with The Verge. “For sure, it means as others want to come to the Store, they’re very welcome. As a matter of fact, encouraged, and that’s kind of why we’re building out some of these policies.”