Windows Store Is Now 100,000 Apps Smaller

Microsoft's Windows Store hasn't exactly been the largest of three major app markets, and now it is smaller than ever. According to reports, Microsoft has shaved off almost a hundred thousand apps from the Italian Windows Store alone, reducing that number by a third. Those apps, however, weren't just removed on a whim but, due to a lack of response from developers, have been deemed non-compliant with new age classification requirements as well as being practically dead.

Microsoft sent out notices to developers more than a month ago informing them of a new mandatory classification of apps according to age groups and involved developers simply answering a questionnaire. After the grace period has lapsed in September 30, Microsoft started removing apps that weren't updated in time.

According to the report, there were 329,507 apps in Windows Store before the cutoff. But since October 19, the store was left with only 239,216, removing more than 90,000 from the roster. That has reduced the Windows Store in Italy by 27%, and there might be a chance that Microsoft isn't done yet.

While it hasn't yet been confirmed whether the same is true for all Windows Stores over the world, we can pretty much presume it to be the case. The move might seem rather aggressive for Microsoft, considering the Windows Store doesn't boast of numbers to begin with, but users probably won't complain that Microsoft is dropping obsolete, perhaps even non-working apps. Provided, of course, they really are such.

Some apps, while not updated, might still be useful, and their users will suddenly find themselves forced to hunt for alternatives. And it's not like the Windows Store is teeming with quality apps anyway.

VIA: Windows Blog Italia