Microsoft quietly removes pledge to share 95% of app revenue on the Microsoft Store

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Published onJanuary 16, 2020

published onJanuary 16, 2020

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Back in March, Microsoft brought new policies to the Microsoft Store to allow developers tokeep a 95 percent cut of revenuegenerated from purchases, provided the traffic comes from the developer itself as opposed to straight from the Store. It seems this type of revenue model didn’t pay off, as the company has removed the clause from its developer agreement, as spotted by an app developer on Twitter.

I’ve held back, but somehow no-one seems to be talking about this rather significant but hidden change to the MS Developer agreement…

The promised 5% fee? Not so much.#uwp#microsoftstore#windowsdevpic.twitter.com/aLJZG6Twrl

— Rob (@Valley_Software)January 15, 2020

It’s no secret the Redmond tech giant wants its Microsoft Store to be the central place for users to obtain applications on Windows 10. The company continually promotes it as the most secure way to install apps, and even forbids installing apps outside of it on devices with S Mode enabled.

Of course, in order for that vision to become reality, the Microsoft Store needs a healthier catalog of apps. It’s more than likely that the initial revenue program was meant to further attract developers to jump on its platform, even as companies Apple and Google can easily get away with taking almost a third of app revenue on their respective platforms.

To be clear, the 85% of revenue the developer keeps from app sales on Windows devices (outside of Xbox consoles) when a users find it though Microsoft’s own sources doesn’t seem to have changed. While it’s likely disappointing for many developers, the company is still be charging considerably less than that of Apple and Google.

What do you think about the app revenue policy changes?

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

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Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft quietly removes pledge to share 95% of app revenue on the Microsoft Store#