Microsoft should move all of its games over to Steam at this point. | Source: Shutterstock.com
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Microsoft is launching more of its titles on Steam.
This is to prevent users from seeing the trash fire that is the Windows 10 Store.
Hopefully, Microsoft moves everything over to Steam and shuts its store down entirely.
Microsoft’s pirate epic, Sea of Thieves, is making the transition to Steam. While it’s currently available on PC via the Microsoft Store, the audience there is limited.
That’s because the Microsoft Store is practically unusable garbage. It’s good to see the company finally come to that realization.
The Microsoft Store is Barely Usable
The Microsoft Store is a weird amalgamation of ideas that are executed better everywhere else.
First off, downloading titles on there is a hassle. Sometimes the download will randomly stop or never have started at all. I’ve pre-downloaded games on there only to have to redownload them on release day. Sometimes updates are required, but running them will delete the software entirely.
Some users can’t even buy games on the store. | Source: Microsoft
Steam and Origin also integrate extra features like friends and achievements into one application. Microsoft, for some reason, has three.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS_AfbB0Syc
Screenshots struggle to load, app pages house invasive autoplay videos, and the Store is chock-full of vaporware and scam software.
The Worst of All Worlds
There’s the Microsoft Store, the Xbox app, and the Xbox Companion App. The Companion App is for friends, achievements, clips, and the like. Game Pass is for new titles on the Netflix-like service, and the Store is, well, the Store.
Why must these be three applications? It makes for a terrible user experience.
At least the Xbox App isn’t an eyesore. | Source: Microsoft
Say I want to check out a new game. I can check the Store to see if it’s available on Game Pass. It’s not always clear about this, so I better double-check on the Xbox app, where I can also see if my friends are playing it.
But wait, I can do that in the Companion app already. Oh, and the Xbox app also has a store and shows reviews and other things that the Microsoft Store does as well.
This info is available on the Xbox App. Why is it here, too? | Source: Microsoft
It’s all so unnecessary. The current Windows PC situation is not unlike Games for Windows Live. Back then, players had issues with signing in, keeping their games, and online play.
Of course, Microsoft is launching titles like The Master Chief Collection or Gears 5 on Steam as well. The user experience is far better there. Hopefully, Microsoft wises up and shuts its store down entirely.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
Max Moeller is a Chicago‑based writer and video editor passionate about games, tech, and crypto. Whether it’s crafting clear, insightful articles or piecing together engaging video retrospectives, he’s driven by curiosity and takes pride in keeping things human. Since 2017, Max has been published in a variety of notable crypto magazines.
