So as we know Windows Platform Apps and WinUI3 apps do not work on Linux, I keep wondering if Microsoft were to launch a new API let’s say direct X 15 but limit it to Windows Store Apps, and provided a way for the apps to be installed from other stores like steam could they in time kill modern Linux gaming.
I bought Gears 4 from the Windows store - they sold it as an exclusive there. We are not under any threat from that.
The store is clunky, it works about 40% of the time, it constantly needs updates, and there’s an install limit of 10 times before you have to buy it again. Even if they locked a tech like DirectX behind it developers wouldn’t use it.
and there’s an install limit of 10 times before you have to buy it again.
lol, wut?
it’s not true.
while there is a 10 device ‘limit’, that refers to how many linked devices you can have. you can remove one to add another. info and how to do that
I mentioned this in a lower comment but im also curious if they made an API allowing apps like steam to install WinUI3 apps would the same be true.
I suspect if they let steam do it there is nothing stopping steam from running it on Linux as well, provided the usual compatibility features such as proton wouldnt be deliberately incapacitated by Microsoft; which in turn would piss off valve a lot because of the steam deck and OS.
They invested heavily in their Linux fork and compatibility suite, if windows store were to fuck with that I suspect they would be on the losing end. Steam users are very loyal to the company and by default extremely hostile to proprietary fuckery.
They invested heavily in their Linux fork and compatibility suite, if windows store were to fuck with that I suspect they would be on the losing end.
This was why Valve invested in Linux and Proton. Microsoft talked about forbidding installation of Windows applications from outside their store under the guise of security.
There’d be no reason to. Anymore, I think they’d be more likely than that to try to port their Xbox game store to Linux than try to kill Linux gaming (though I doubt they’ll do that either)
port their Xbox game store to Linux
Surely that wouldn’t go anywhere even if they did do that
IMO the Windows Store is why valve has invested heavily into gaming on Linux. Windows Store could easily become a huge Steam Store competitor if Microsoft were an effective company. So Valve wants to enable devices that don’t run Windows. Numerous other benefits for something like the Steam Deck as well, but I’d bet we see another Steam Machine someday - probably after they convince more companies to support Linux
@skymtf Well yes and no. Technically they probably could, but they’d likely incur the wrath of the EU doing so. That said if they were interested in a locked environment, they could have just never started porting Xbox games to PC.
What if they made an API allowing 3rd party stores, but the same security methods. Like MS would do this for the sole reason to kill device like the steam deck
even then Microsoft would not survive the EU as these changes you mention are solely to gatekeep gaming to their platform.
Also given Vulkan being pretty on top of things, HDR FSR/DLSS, Raytracing; Devs could simply opt to use the non-propritary interface.
Also, besides the EU, Microsoft would get A LOT of flak from digital Store Front Vendors like Steam, Epic, Blizzard Activision, EA…
