Microsoft Store



Microsoft Store (formerly Windows Store) is a platform developed by Microsoft as part of Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 for apps in Metro along with music and video, starting with Windows 10. Android apps are discoverable for Windows 11. The Windows Store also allows developers to advertise their Win32 or traditional desktop applications. It supports both free and paid apps, with the paid apps ranging from $1.49 to $999.99. Developers are able to offer free trials.

Development history
On September 13, 2011, the first day of the Build Conference, Microsoft's Windows President Steven Sinofsky announced the Windows Store app and demonstrated the features of a developer preview of the store. The Windows Store became available concurrently with the release of the Windows 8 Beta in February 2012. Windows 10 build 9926 offered a new Store Beta next to the Windows 8.1 Store, the only difference being that the Store Beta offered beta tests from Microsoft and showed apps from Windows Phone. Media Content was added to build 10041. Support for the downloading of Android apps for Windows 11 requires the Windows Subsystem for Android, which became available for testing through the Windows Insider Program on October 20, 2021.

Business model
The Windows Store became the only means of distributing Metro-style apps to users; the official reason is to allow Microsoft to scan apps for security flaws and malware. The Windows Store took a 30% cut of application sales. Once an application reaches $25,000 USD in revenue, the cut drops to 20%. In-app third-party transactions are also allowed, of which Microsoft does not take a cut. Individual developers will be able to register for $49 USD and $99 USD for companies. On June 24, 2021, Microsoft announced that they would reduce their cut to 15%, which would be dropped to zero if a company brought its own payment system. This special deal does not extend to games, which would be subject to a 12% fee through Microsoft’s payment platform.

Guidelines
Similar to the Windows Phone Marketplace, the Windows Store is regulated by Microsoft. Applications must be approved by Microsoft before becoming available in the store. Disallowed types of applications revealed by Microsoft (for Developer Preview) include :
 * Apps that contain adult content
 * Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE 17, or that contain content that would warrant such a rating
 * Apps that advocate discrimination, hatred, or violence based on membership in a particular racial, ethnic, national, linguistic, religious, or other social groups, or based on a person’s gender, age, or sexual orientation
 * Apps that contain content or functionality that encourages, facilitates or glamorizes illegal activity
 * Apps that contain or display content that a reasonable person would consider being obscene
 * Apps that are Defamatory, libelous or slanderous, or threatening
 * Apps that encourages, facilitates or glamorizes excessive or irresponsible use of alcohol or tobacco products, drugs or weapons
 * Apps that encourages, facilitates or glamorizes extreme or gratuitous violence, human rights violations, or the creation or use of weapons against a person or animal in the real world
 * Apps that contain excessive or gratuitous profanity