Microsoft's UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps could soon be dead, according to well-known Microsoft insider Paul Thurrott, which means the future of the Microsoft Store – where the apps are purchased – could be in doubt.

In an in-depth article, Thurrott explains that “I think it may be game over for Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform apps platform,” and how the failure of UWPs could spell trouble for the Microsoft Store.

The death of UWP apps won't come as too much of a surprise to anyone. Originally designed as a way of allowing developers to make applications that could work on both Windows 10 and Windows Phone devices, the apps have become increasingly irrelevant after Microsoft dropped its smartphone ambitions.

With Microsoft ditching support for Windows Phone, developers had even less incentive to make UWP versions of their software.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has been trying to encourage developers to continue to provide apps for the Microsoft Store by allowing them to use standard win32 code, or to write them as PWA (Progressive Web Applications) instead.

A barren store
It's no secret that the Microsoft Store is struggling – especially when you compare the number of apps available on it compared to Apple's App Store, or Google Play. PWA apps can be installed directly through a web browser, which means there's even less incentive for Windows users to go to the Microsoft Store.

With developers increasingly dropping UWP – after all, why would they want to rewrite their applications for a platform that very few people use – this could spell trouble for the Microsoft Store.

As Thurrott notes, it's unlikely we'll see the Microsoft Store disappear completely. For a start, Microsoft uses it to sell games on Windows and Xbox One, but outside of games, it's likely to become even more neglected by both developers and users.

I would like to hear something like "Winblowz10 is struggling..." as well in the near future......
anon893 發表於 2019-5-3 12:43

衷心希望Windows 10入面嘅多Bug嘅UWP API、Windows Phone單色高對比風格扁平化設計主題同埋一直做唔大嘅Mic ...
Okt04175 發表於 2019-5-5 20:38

W phone咁少app,
使用又冇Android咁方便，
遲早完都係意料中事。
big_nature 發表於 2019-5-8 17:19

給一些時間啦。

via HKEPC Reader for Android
daemongmong 發表於 2019-5-8 18:07

UWP係一個好理想嘅設計,可以打通PC/Tablet/Phone,但現實上就
wyhui5124 發表於 2019-5-8 20:26