When Microsoft revealed its retailer’s new design for Windows 11, it additionally had nice information for builders. The tech big will enable them to make use of their very own or a 3rd celebration commerce platform of their apps beginning on July twenty eighth. If they select to take action, the corporate will not take a lower from their earnings, and so they can maintain one hundred pc of their income. In its announcement, Microsoft talked about “app developers” particularly. Turns out that is as a result of they’re the one ones who can benefit from the incentive: The firm has confirmed to The Verge that the revenue-sharing exemption does not apply to video games.

As the publication notes, Microsoft makes massive cash from sport gross sales and subscriptions like every other firm that runs a digital platform. It even admitted that it sells Xbox consoles at a loss, realizing that it will make revenue from getting a 30 % fee from sport builders. While it is unlikely for Microsoft to let go of sport commissions completely, it is going to implement decrease charges for video games beginning on August 1st. It will solely take 12 % of a developer’s income as a substitute of 30, not less than in the case of PC releases offered by way of its retailer.

By decreasing its fee fee, Microsoft is following Epic’s lead. Epic has been getting a 12 % lower of builders’ earnings because it opened its personal PC video games retailer in 2018 and has been essentially the most vocal critic of Apple’s 70/30 revenue-sharing mannequin.