

Tim Sweeney, co-founder of Epic Games, has published a column in The Guardian calling out Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP). Sweeney claims that UWP aims to turn Windows into a closed ecosystem.

His overall point is that Microsoft aims to monopolize app distribution. While not denouncing the Store itself, he denounces the idea that UWP apps cannot be obtained from outside of the Store.


Of course, as he notes in the following paragraph, UWP apps can be obtained outside of the Store. The setting for allowing side-loaded apps is much easier to reach in Windows 10 than it was in Windows 8/8.1. His issue is that it is turned off by default.

One might say that this is the world we live in now. It's similar to Android, where users can side-load apps; however, the setting is turned off by default. On iOS, users have the option to side-load apps now without a developer license, as long as they have a Mac and can get their hands on the app's source code, or jump through some other hoops.

But Sweeney isn't talking about just apps. He's talking about games, where multiple stores already exist, such as Steam, which has over 100 million users.

He goes on to say:




It's worth noting at this point that the Store launched with Windows 8, redesigned with the UWP platform for Windows 10. It's also worth noting that Project Centennial, Microsoft's bridge for porting Win32 apps to UWP, isn't readily available just yet, which would explain why apps such as Photoshop aren't there.

Kevin Gallo, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Windows, issued the following statement to The Guardian:



As co-founder of Epic Games, Sweeney's words may be seen as a huge blow toward UWP. Sweeney isn't just condemning Microsoft for the way that UWP is implemented, he's openly calling for a rebellion against the platform.

Source: The Guardian / The Guardian

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