Epic Games is Coming to the Microsoft Store in Windows 11

What a difference a few policy changes make: Microsoft revealed today that Epic Games is bringing its online store into the Microsoft Store in Windows 11.

“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 Microsoft announcement notes vaguely.

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It appears that this means that the Amazon mobile app will be downloadable from the Microsoft Store, as will the Epic Game Store apps. These are not store-within-a-store experiences, but rather standalone downloads.

(We already knew that Amazon’s AppStore for Android was coming, and that will be a true store-within-a-store experience.)

This is interesting on a number of levels, but as you may recall, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney was previously one of Microsoft’s fiercest critics, back when the software giant added what was then called the Windows Store to Windows 8. Since then, the two firms have moved closer together, however. In 2019, Tim Sweeney appeared at the HoloLens 2 launch. And now, Mr. Sweeney is going to make his Epic Games Store available from the Microsoft Store on Windows.

This is part of a new strategy on Microsoft’s part to make its online store an open platform. And the reason Epic has done such an about-face is that Microsoft is no longer charging Apple-like fees: It no longer charges fees for stores, like Epic’s, that have their own payment systems. That said, it would be even more interesting if the Epic Game Store was available directly inside the Microsoft Store, as will be the Amazon AppStore for Android.

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Conversation 15 comments

  • blue77star

    28 September, 2021 - 1:53 pm

    <p>Why would I install Epic Store from Microsoft store and be limited where I can install it. I have Steam, Epic and other applications on different M.2 Raid 0 setup under folder Games. Microsoft Store has serious limitation there. MS Store really makes no sense on desktop.</p>

    • jimchamplin

      Premium Member
      28 September, 2021 - 2:04 pm

      <p>To <em>you</em>. It makes no sense to <em>you</em>. </p><p><br></p><p>To many others it makes perfect sense and works well. </p>

    • JE

      28 September, 2021 - 5:31 pm

      <p>It’s examples like this that make me think there should be some sort of test/license as an entry requirement to comment on the internet</p>

    • bettyblue

      28 September, 2021 - 7:47 pm

      <p>Not that I would buy anything from the Microsoft store, but you can move any app, to any place you want and its super easy. </p><p><br></p><p>I moved Forza 4 on my gaming PC, (I got it from the store because I bought it for my Xbox, universal game or whatever they call it) from the C drive to the D drive. It by clicking on the move button in settings. WAY easier that say a game installed from other apps like Origin, Epic, Activision, Ubisoft etc. </p><p><br></p><p>If you can move those games they often require tweaking ini files or registry settings so the launcher knows where it is now. In some cases you have to delete and re-install those games.</p>

      • blue77star

        29 September, 2021 - 9:39 am

        <p>You can move to another drive but not to a folder on another drive.</p>

  • blue77star

    28 September, 2021 - 1:55 pm

    <p>Maybe I am mistaken but if MS Store acts only as a place where you download Epic Store from and then Epic installation process goes from there…again what’s the point. I have Epic Installer on my NAS I can install from. Just trying to rationalize MS Store, its purpose?</p>

    • dallasnorth40

      Premium Member
      28 September, 2021 - 1:57 pm

      <p>Just guessing here, but it could be aimed at the millions who are not as tech savvy as you are.</p>

      • blue77star

        28 September, 2021 - 4:55 pm

        <p>I don’t think those people even know what Epic Games is.</p>

        • kjb434

          Premium Member
          28 September, 2021 - 9:33 pm

          <p>That vast majority of Epic Games users are not tech savy. See Fortnite.</p><p><br></p><p>Easily getting to Epic Games or get Epic Games through the store makes it real easy. </p>

          • Greg Green

            29 September, 2021 - 8:46 am

            <p>If the can download chrome they can download the epic storefront.</p>

    • Maverick010

      28 September, 2021 - 6:10 pm

      <p>It is for several reasons. One is a one place stop to get apps quickly and download. The other part may be a more streamlined update process.</p><p><br></p><p>My one guess is the app you download from the Microsoft store is the most updated app being installed from the start. The app install you get from Epic is just a wrapper to install the app and when you run that app it searches for updates and begins that process again to update and install. </p><p><br></p><p>I am sure there is more reasons for each person. </p>

  • mattbg

    Premium Member
    28 September, 2021 - 2:47 pm

    <p>I hate the Epic Games Store so much.</p><p><br></p><p>I wish everything on that store was available on Steam so that I didn’t have to use it.</p>

    • Maverick010

      29 September, 2021 - 9:39 pm

      <p>I am not fond of their install process at all. Steam has by far one of the best install processes, that even if I have to reinstall Windows or add the drive with my Steam library to a new machine, there is no need to redownload or reinstall the games, with little exceptions.</p><p><br></p><p>Now with that out of the way, I actually use GOG Galaxy, as I can integrate steam, EPIC, Windows Xbox Live Store, and Origin all into once centralized location. It makes it significantly easier to manage my game library amongst the stores, and just one actual app to keep open with all my games from the different stores in one place. I really wish Microsoft would do something similar with a default games managed App.</p>

      • jimchamplin

        Premium Member
        29 September, 2021 - 11:31 pm

        <p>Works the same way for Battle.net too.</p>

  • spacein_vader

    Premium Member
    29 September, 2021 - 11:06 am

    <p>The indie storefront itch.io has been available through the Epic Games Store for a while. So you could install a store within a store within a store. </p><p><br></p><p>Storeception</p>

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