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[memoryman3]

2025 in review: How we elevated the Microsoft Store experience

2025 was a meaningful year for the Microsoft Store on Windows, with more than 250 million monthly users discovering a Microsoft Store that feels more personalized, helpful and delightful to use. We welcomed exciting new arrivals to the st

blogs.windows.com

2025 was a meaningful year for the Microsoft Store on Windows, with more than 250 million monthly users discovering a Microsoft Store that feels more personalized, helpful and delightful to use. We welcomed exciting new arrivals to the store, including innovative productivity tools like Raycast, Noteastic and Cephable, fan-favorite games like Fortnite, Hollow Knight: Silksong and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, accessibility apps like DotVista, and standout apps such as RunCat 365 and Adobe Premier Elements 2026. We also expanded in partnership with Tencent the catalog in China with mini apps and games, such as Rednote, Kaipanla and Fire to the Zombies, bringing even more choice to customers around the world

We continued to invest in our fundamentals – including:

• Quicker Navigation: The Store app launches faster than before, thanks to performance improvements we made earlier this year. And moving between departments in the Store is now noticeably faster, thanks to new updates rolling out in December.

• Improved Error Handling: Our goal is to ensure you have an error-free experience – but when you do run into issues, we've clarified our messaging to help lead to a resolution. For example, in the past mismatched region settings would block a purchase with an error message. Now, the Store automatically detects the issue and guides you to adjust your region settings, so you can complete your purchase without interruption.

• Uninstallation directly from the Library: This has been a top customer ask in Feedback Hub – now, simply head to the Library, click the three-dot menu for an installed app and click uninstall.

As we move into 2026, our focus remains steady: Continue improving the fundamentals, build experiences that feel thoughtful and keep listening to what you need from the Store.

More information is available here. The load time improvement is something I noticed immediately, and now the Microsoft Store loads faster than even Steam. Coupled with a lack of launcher requirement and full integration with the Xbox experience, could we see the Microsoft Store become the definitive PC storefront in many years time?

 

[DeepEnigma]

The end.

 

[The Cockatrice]

The end.

 

[Durin]

Microsoft Store still blows, and it's even worse than the Xbox App.

The layouts are poorly organized, tons of wasted space, it does a bad job learning what you like, tons of shovelware garbage, gaming there is mixed with mobile game fluff, etc.

Even the update tool when I hit "Update All" will update some apps, and then I have to click it again or them individually for it to actually do the function. Google and Apple aren't much better, but they are better than Microsoft at building a store.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Exciting times to be a Microsoft hater

 

[Sticks]

Exciting times to be a Microsoft hater

 

[Magic Carpet]

The load time improvement is something I noticed immediately, and now the Microsoft Store loads faster than even Steam. Coupled with a lack of launcher requirement and full integration with the Xbox experience, could we see the Microsoft Store become the definitive PC storefront in many years time?

The MS store does load faster than Steam. Something is wrong with Steam this past year. I notice that Steam always looking for updates at startup and takes a long time while doing so.
Clearing the download cache fixes it for a while until downloading a game the startup issue comes back.

I've been playing with the Full Screen Experience on the Steamdeck with Windows installed. It works. Not as quick and fast as the Series consoles but the functionality is there. Still have issues with pausing and resuming games.

 

[Shubh_C63]

Only took them 11 years. Amazing software company.

 

[Three]

The end.

 

[Zacfoldor]

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

They probably just have 50% less people accessing it at the same time lmao.

 

[diffusionx]

they should release a new Xbox controller to celebrate this

 

[Topher]

"elevated"

 

[DeepEnigma]

 

[MayauMiao]

Sorry but GFWL left a huge scar on me. I shall continue to ignore MS Store.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

It's impressive how Microsoft has found a way to undo years of progress with Windows Store and PC Game Pass. Terrible experience.

 

[ZehDon]

The Microsoft store is literally used as example by several UI/UX consultants as an example of what not to do.
There's zero reason for it to load as poorly as it does, search as poorly as it does, look as poorly as it does, run as poorly as it does, or provide an experience as poor as it does. Zero.

 

[CobraAB]

 

[MacReady13]

Why anyone would consider using the Xbox store/app on PC when Steam is available is beyond my comprehension. Which makes it all the more baffling that you can now buy many games on the Xbox consoles that are "play anywhere" but why oh fucking why would you want to play them on PC via the Xbox app? I purposely avoid that fucking crap when I'm on PC unless it's for games I purchased on Xbox YEARS ago before I decided to give them the flick (Forza games, Halo and Gears games). Besides, it's so much easier to just buy them on an Xbox console and play them exclusively on an Xbox console which is what they were originally designed for!

 

[winjer]

Windows is much faster and smoother without the MS Store.
It's just complete trash made by code vibers, that have no idea how to make anything work well.

 

[nowhat]

Windows is much faster and smoother without the MS Store.
It's just complete trash made by code vibers, that have no idea how to make anything work well.

I think this applies to most of the "improvements" to Windows lately in general. Take something like "Windows Recall". Anyone (and I mean literally anyone, even with no technological background) could have told them that it was a monumentally stupid idea. Yet, they almost went ahead with it. But I'm hesitant to blame the "vibers" for it. They're just doing what the management tells them to.

 

[falconhoof]

I like the feature where it just stops being able to install anything with some lame error code that tells you nothing, where the solution is to reboot your PC.

Keep it up MS, you're really hitting it out of the park.

 

[memoryman3]

Why anyone would consider using the Xbox store/app on PC when Steam is available is beyond my comprehension. Which makes it all the more baffling that you can now buy many games on the Xbox consoles that are "play anywhere" but why oh fucking why would you want to play them on PC via the Xbox app? I purposely avoid that fucking crap when I'm on PC unless it's for games I purchased on Xbox YEARS ago before I decided to give them the flick (Forza games, Halo and Gears games). Besides, it's so much easier to just buy them on an Xbox console and play them exclusively on an Xbox console which is what they were originally designed for!

Better deals, Microsoft Rewards, Play Anywhere, Cloud Access? You also do not need to install the Xbox App. Just access and manage your downloads through the in-built OS store.

Steam is a pain point for adoption for sure. Should Microsoft once again release first party titles exclusively on their Windows Storefront, PlayStation and Switch?

 

[damidu]

having by-far the worst store on your own frikin os will always be top entertainment, bring on those blog posts

 

[winjer]

The MS store does load faster than Steam. Something is wrong with Steam this past year. I notice that Steam always looking for updates at startup and takes a long time while doing so.
Clearing the download cache fixes it for a while until downloading a game the startup issue comes back.

I've been playing with the Full Screen Experience on the Steamdeck with Windows installed. It works. Not as quick and fast as the Series consoles but the functionality is there. Still have issues with pausing and resuming games.

The MS Store and several other MS apps, are pre-loaded during the Windows boot. And the MS account is logged in during boot as well.
So the time that the time that takes the Store to load, is disguised during the Windows boot.
Meanwhile, Steam has to load after Windows loads, just like all other programs. And then connect to the Steam servers and login.

And you might have problems with your PC, if even downloading on Steam gives you troubles.
I haven't had to clear the Steam cache for any issue, in several years.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Wait a second, they are bragging about Windows Store?

Talk about terminal form of delulu.

 

[Sephimoth]

Only thing MS elevated was xbox fans blood pressure.

Constantly highlighting minor/nothingburger "wins" isn't helping their rep, Release some killer games.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Look at us. Our website works!

 

[MacReady13]

Better deals, Microsoft Rewards, Play Anywhere, Cloud Access? You also do not need to install the Xbox App. Just access and manage your downloads through the in-built OS store.

Steam is a pain point for adoption for sure. Should Microsoft once again release first party titles exclusively on their Windows Storefront, PlayStation and Switch?

Better deals? In what way? Microsoft rewards reward no one anymore. Play anywhere is, again, pathetic when you play on PC sometimes with poor versions of games that are on Steam. Cloud access is also on Playstation. NOTHING Microsoft offers cannot be done almost anywhere else on other platforms and done FAR better in some cases as well. Microsoft should've stuck with consoles for console gaming and PC for PC gaming and kept it like that being their sole focus. They tried to be too much for too few and have effectively ruined everything.

 

[Idleyes]

I've lost count of how many times I've clicked Steam, Game Pass, Epic, and even GOG's Icon. But I know exactly how many times I clicked the Windows Store Icon in all of 2025. Zero.

 

[Tobimacoss]

Microsoft Store still blows, and it's even worse than the Xbox App.

The layouts are poorly organized, tons of wasted space, it does a bad job learning what you like, tons of shovelware garbage, gaming there is mixed with mobile game fluff, etc.

Even the update tool when I hit "Update All" will update some apps, and then I have to click it again or them individually for it to actually do the function. Google and Apple aren't much better, but they are better than Microsoft at building a store.

Xbox app is for Xbox certified games. MS Store can have all kinds of games, so why wouldn't it have mobile game fluff? Have you ever seen the mobile fluff on Playstore and AppStore? Or the shovelware garbage on Steam? Your complaint is just for the sake of complaining.

Only thing MS elevated was xbox fans blood pressure.

Constantly highlighting minor/nothingburger "wins" isn't helping their rep, Release some killer games.

This is a windows blog post, nothing to do with Xbox.

Better deals? In what way? Microsoft rewards reward no one anymore. Play anywhere is, again, pathetic when you play on PC sometimes with poor versions of games that are on Steam. Cloud access is also on Playstation. NOTHING Microsoft offers cannot be done almost anywhere else on other platforms and done FAR better in some cases as well. Microsoft should've stuck with consoles for console gaming and PC for PC gaming and kept it like that being their sole focus. They tried to be too much for too few and have effectively ruined everything.

What does PlayStation having Cloud Access, have to do with Xbox Cloud Gaming on the Xbox app?

Xbox PC, (Xbox app/MS Store) has benefits that Steam will always lack.

 

[PauloRoberto]

With absolute all due respect... showing these improvements as 'big news' to the end user is absolute shameful, it's a proof that MS has NOTHING to show! (and im a backend software engineer, so to speak im the one responsible for improvements like these, and im know end end user ns giving zero f***s about it!).

 

[reinking]

 

[Magic Carpet]

And you might have problems with your PC, if even downloading on Steam gives you troubles.
I haven't had to clear the Steam cache for any issue, in several years.

It's the startup of the Steam app that is taking long. Downloading games is just fine.
Press the Steam Icon, Get a splash screen that says checking for updates then wait a bit. It's not super long but it's long enough to read the message and see a progress bar while it's updating steam, then the Steam store is up and going.

Also Steam games I have installed but have not played in a while don't update. I get a que in the download that a game has an update but they just sit in the que until I press the little download now button.
Whats up with dat?

 

[SJRB]

Microsoft makes hating them too easy.

Where's the challenge? They just keep handing out these self-owns.

 

[PauloRoberto]

ow, cmon... at least in that epoch MS had a plan and someone with passion enough to lead it (if the plan was GOOD, that is another discussion)

 

[Brucey]

Wait a second, they are bragging about Windows Store?

Talk about terminal form of delulu.

Microsoft astroturfers dont have many talking points left to earn their free gamepass coupons. Please understand....

 

[Punished Miku]

Better deals? In what way? Microsoft rewards reward no one anymore.

I get like $30 a month. Probably getting $40 from mid Dec to mid Jan since I bought multiple games on sale and they did 2 weeks of double points.

 

[Durin]

Xbox app is for Xbox certified games. MS Store can have all kinds of games, so why wouldn't it have mobile game fluff? Have you ever seen the mobile fluff on Playstore and AppStore? Or the shovelware garbage on Steam? Your complaint is just for the sake of complaining.

I know what the apps are for, I'm just saying they're badly constructed, and poorly organized. They don't need a separate Xbox app when they could just make it a tab inside the base store (separate from the casual mobile garbage), and organize the store itself with better UI + a better recommendation algorithm. They have a separate Xbox Accessories app just to do less controller customization than Steam Input, and have done next to nothing to improve/add to it sitting at a 2.2 rating on their own store.

I've had more glitches and issues with basic functionality (failure to move games from drive to drive, having to clear cache so it recognizes my login, etc.) vs other pc storefronts, and I threw in the complaint about the update all button as just an example of them not doing something basic right. I want more competition in the PC space, but it sucks when the biggest OS maker can't do a good store.

Already said Google and Apple don't have great storefronts either, they're just better than Microsoft...and having a worse storefront is a big reason their phones failed to ever take off.

 

[adamsapple]

Can't say I really interacted with their web store that much, usually I just google a game and go directly to its specific game page instead.

 

[Badlucktroll]

 

[Ronin_7]

Microsoft Store lol that and Windows 11 are absolute mid tier software.

Already switched to Ubuntu in one of my laptops, running docker & airflow native and not having to deal with the Windows bullshit, 8GB of RAM also seems like 16.

 

[MiguelItUp]

The store is a damned nightmare. I can't even count the amount of times downloads and updates have failed for no good reason. Makes absolutely no sense. Out of all the platforms I've used to download, update, etc. Microsoft Store is by far the worst one.

 

[ZehDon]

I think this applies to most of the "improvements" to Windows lately in general. Take something like "Windows Recall". Anyone (and I mean literally anyone, even with no technological background) could have told them that it was a monumentally stupid idea. Yet, they almost went ahead with it. But I'm hesitant to blame the "vibers" for it. They're just doing what the management tells them to.

Microsoft has its unwavering marching orders from Nadella: justify my over-spend on AI at all costs. Xbox is being pilfered, Windows is being twisted, and Azure is spiraling. They're sailing past USD$50 billion in investments with another USD$50 billion already ear marked with no profits in sight and a hard deadline of 2030 before OpenAI pulls the plug on them. So, with nothing in hand, they're doing the next best thing: invent profits where none exist. The more they can stick AI into products that already turn a profit - Xbox, Office, Windows, Azure - the more they can use some creative accounting to assign a percentage of that against their mounting AI expenditure. It won't be new money, but announcing some kind of increase in AI-generated revenue will buy Nadella grace with their board, investors, and shareholders to try and dig himself out of the hole. And I'm betting Microsoft is prepared to accept dramatically worse results than what we're seeing so far, so things are going to get a lot worse...

 

[Unknown Soldier]

The Microsoft store is literally used as example by several UI/UX consultants as an example of what not to do.
There's zero reason for it to load as poorly as it does, search as poorly as it does, look as poorly as it does, run as poorly as it does, or provide an experience as poor as it does. Zero.

Have you seen Teams lately?

 

[ZehDon]

Have you seen Teams lately?

Unfortunately, yes.

 

[nowhat]

Microsoft has its unwavering marching orders from Nadella: justify my over-spend on AI at all costs. Xbox is being pilfered, Windows is being twisted, and Azure is spiraling. They're sailing past USD$50 billion in investments with another USD$50 billion already ear marked with no profits in sight and a hard deadline of 2030 before OpenAI pulls the plug on them. So, with nothing in hand, they're doing the next best thing: invent profits where none exist. The more they can stick AI into products that already turn a profit - Xbox, Office, Windows, Azure - the more they can use some creative accounting to assign a percentage of that against their mounting AI expenditure. It won't be new money, but announcing some kind of increase in AI-generated revenue will buy Nadella grace with their board, investors, and shareholders to try and dig himself out of the hole. And I'm betting Microsoft is prepared to accept dramatically worse results than what we're seeing so far, so things are going to get a lot worse...

I'm sure you've seen these various diagrams of how the AI investments go. And how it's basically just a whole lot of circular speculation, moving around imaginary investments and returns...

AI will be with us, for a long time, it already has been in some capacity. GAI, we're not there yet, for decades even. But currently, things are absolutely ridiculous, and while it may not be as huge as the dotcom bubble (it could be worse as well), there is a bubble, and burst it will.

 

[Brucey]

Have you seen Teams lately?

Each day starting Teams is a new surprise. Am I going to get Teams notification sounds today or not?

 

[ReBurn]

I've purchased nothing from the Microsoft Store in 2025.

 

[falconhoof]

Microsoft to Replace All C/C++ Code With Rust by 2030

Microsoft is taking an impressive step in modernizing its biggest codebases and will eliminate all C/C++ code by the end of the decade.

www.thurrott.com

"My goal is to eliminate every line of C and C++ from Microsoft by 2030," Microsoft Distinguished Engineer Galen Hunt writes in a post on LinkedIn.

"Our strategy is to combine AI and Algorithms to rewrite Microsoft's largest codebases."

Good luck Windows. Keep pumping that AI machine. Linux is rooting for you.