Microsoft Store's new revenue model doesn't apply to game developers

Microsoft's new revenue model will help developers make more money, but it doesn't apply to game developers



What you need to know


Microsoft will let app developers keep 100% of revenue from apps in the Microsoft Store if they use their own commerce platform.
Game developers will still have to give 12% of their revenue to Microsoft.
Microsoft reduced the cut that game developers had to give from 30% to 12% last year.


When Microsoft announced Windows 11, it announced a new revenue model for app developers. Starting July 28, 2021, if an app in the Microsoft Store uses a third-party commerce system, like the Adobe Creative Cloud does, then its developer can keep 100% of its revenue. This is a dramatic shift for Microsoft, but it doesn't apply to games.

Game developers with titles in the Microsoft Store will still have to give Microsoft a 12% cut of revenue. Microsoft lowered that cut from 30% to 12% last summer in a move to place it in line with the Epic Games Store. 12% is dramati...