Microsoft’s Windows Store Now Open to Third-Party App Stores

Microsoft weren’t just doing wishful thinking when it said it wanted more third-party app stores in the Windows 11 portal. The edge Notes that new Microsoft Store policies now allow third-party storefront apps. And no, Amazon’s Appstore isn’t the only partner on board – the Epic Games Store will also be coming to the Microsoft Store in the “next few months.” As promised, Microsoft will not be demanding any revenue share from these stores.

The company’s relaxed policies on competing browsers (which now allow browsers with non-Microsoft engines) are also paying off. Opera and Yandex Browser arrive on the Microsoft Store to offer an alternative to Edge. These additions won’t help much if your first impulse is to download Chrome or Firefox, but they do suggest that Microsoft is open to at least some competition in its own store.

There is no mention of Steam, GOG, or other well-known app and game stores. It’s also not surprising that Epic is one of the early adopters. He’s a vocal opponent of Apple’s App Store policies and determined to offer the Epic Games Store where possible. Microsoft is benefiting from this without surprise. It may present the Windows 11 store as a more open alternative to Apple’s Mac App Store, although Mac users don’t have a real problem accessing the EGS and other storefronts.