Microsoft Ditches Classic Games for Windows Store Apps

Microsoft once included games like Solitaire and Minesweeper in its Windows operating system. This was a deliberate design choice, aimed at making Windows feel more approachable and fun for users.

The practice of bundling games with the OS began as early as Windows 1.0, which shipped with Reversi in 1985. Over time, the selection of games grew, with Solitaire being introduced in Windows 3.0 in 1990.

However, Microsoft eventually phased out these classic inbox games with the release of Windows 8 in 2012. The company instead moved them to the Windows Store as separate apps.

This decision was made for several reasons. One reason was that maintaining and updating these games became a significant burden on Microsoft's resources. For example, Pinball had a serious collision bug that required substantial engineering time to fix.

Another reason was that licensing and distribution of games were becoming easier through third-party platforms like Steam and the Xbox Store.