Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) recently made the decision to open up its app store to third-party vendors, which will allow both Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Epic Games Stores to be available within the Microsoft Store in upcoming months.
"Just like any other app, third-party storefront apps will have a product detail page - which can be found via search or by browsing - so that users can easily find and install it with the same confidence as any other app in the Microsoft Store on Windows," said Giorgio Sardo, general manager of the Microsoft Store, quoted by The Verge. "Today, we are sharing that Amazon and Epic Games will bring their storefront apps to the Microsoft Store over the next few months, and we look forward to welcoming other stores as well in the future."
The decision was made directly after Epic Games and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) had been in the midst of a legal battle. This had been occurring since last year, when the "Fortnite" creator attempted to get around Apple's 30% fee on certain in-app purchases on the App Store by coming out with its very own in-app payment system.
At the moment, Microsoft is focused on being an "open Store for an open platform" that will permit third-party storefront applications to be listed in the Windows Microsoft Store. Microsoft will implement these apps Windows 11, which involves the capability of looking up the Amazon Appstore straight from the Microsoft Store.
Some of the other renowned apps that are now included in the Microsoft Store are Discord, Zoom (NASDAQ: ZM), VLC, TeamViewer, and Visual Studio Code. Progressive Web Apps (PWA) will additionally be included, such as Reddit, Wikipedia, TikTok, Tumblr, and so on. Windows, by including third-party apps to the Microsoft Store, will widen the horizons of many users who especially wish to make use of platforms such as Amazon and Epic Games Stores. This will, in turn, attract further usage of Microsoft across the spectrum, whether it is from third-party users, or from those who are typical Microsoft users.