Epic Games Takes On Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform

Harsh words from Epic Games' co-founder Tim Sweeney today. Writing a piece for The Guardian, Sweeney calls Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP) initiative a "closed platform-within-a-platform," and an attempt to create a monopolization of the PC that "can, should, must, and will die as a result of industry backlash."

Sweeney's primary contention is that Microsoft is baking a number of features that gamers might want into this new platform—namely, the ability to easily run games across several different devices. However, UWP games have to be sold through the Windows Store; developers can't sell the games themselves, for example, nor can they update them unless they do it through said Windows Store.

"I'm not questioning the idea of a Windows Store. I believe Microsoft has every right to operate a PC app store, and to curate it how they choose. This contrasts with the position the government took in its antitrust prosecution, that Microsoft's free bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows was anti-competitive," Sweeney writes.

"My view is that bundling is a valuable practice that benefits users, and my criticism is limited to Microsoft structuring its operating system to advantage its own store while unfairly disadvantaging competing app stores, as well as developers and publishers who distribute games directly to their customers."

Sweeney isn't just complaining, though. In his editorial, he also offers up a few constructive solutions that Microsoft could implement in order to improve the Universal Windows Platform. It's doubtful that Microsoft will actually take Sweeney's suggestions to heart, which include: allowing UWP apps to be downloaded from anywhere, not just the Windows Store; allowing any company to operate its own store for UWP games and apps; and allowing users, developers, and publishers to "engage in direct commerce with each other" without Microsoft taking a 30 percent cut of sales from Windows Store games and apps.

"Microsoft's situation, however, is an embarrassment. Seven months after the launch of Windows Store alongside Windows 10, the place remains devoid of the top third-party games and signature applications that define the PC experience. Where's Photoshop? Grand Theft Auto V? FIFA 2016? There are some PC ports of what were great mobile games, and some weirder things, such as the Windows 10 port of the Android port of the PC version of Grand Theft Auto from 2004," he writes.

"But the good PC stuff isn't there, with the exception of Microsoft's own software products. Does Microsoft really think that independent PC developers and publishers, who cherish their freedom and their direct customer relationships, are going to sign up for this current UWP fiasco?"

Sweeney's comments come in the wake of the news that Remedy Entertainment's Quantum Break will only be available for the Xbox One and Windows 10, and only purchasable through the Windows Store for the latter. The move has already generated a bit of criticism. Though, to Microsoft's credit, at least these triple-A titles are helping the Windows Store feel less like a gallery of ported smartphone games.

Microsoft's Phil Spencer, who runs the company's Xbox division, took to Twitter today to address Sweeney's criticisms.

Sweeney responded: "I like the sound of this, and look forward to thorough technical details on UWP's planned openness at //build."