By the end of last week, I’m sure many people working at Microsoft needed a holiday. It was a troublesome week, with the announcement of (possible) Xbox One upgrades, the shortcomings of Universal Windows Apps and the true reason behind their focus to PC gaming all falling under scrutiny of the internet and its users. But it wasn’t until the end of the week that things got really heated, with Epic Games’ Tim Sweeny launching an attack on Microsoft and their “evil” plans to control the PC market.
It was vicious attack at that, with Sweeny criticising their UWP app program as a way for Microsoft to monopolise the PC market – or at least attempt to. Sweeny in turn ended up being forced to spend his weekend defending these views, and ultimately had a change of heart by the end of it. In a podcast with Polygon, Sweeny took a step back and actually admitted that he doesn’t necessarily think Microsoft is trying anything devious.
Microsoft is a black box. I know a lot of people there who are really awesome, smart people who want to do the right thing, but then there are other people there who appear not to be because some of the bad decisions they’re making on Windows 10. There is not proof of an evil plan to do this, but just the fear.
That could be because Sweeny is actually rather confused about many of the features that UWP apps have, or at least his engagements on Twitter seem to suggest as much. Sweeny engaged with a lot of Twitter replies over the weekend, but the most interesting were the ones where his apparent knowledge of Microsoft’s platform was made to look a lot more limited than he previously wanted everyone to believe.
@TimSweeneyEpic as im sure you know, uwps are published to appx packages that can then be bootstrapped by an exe, just like msis/setup.exes
— Allan Lindqvist (@aL3891) 4 March 2016
@TimSweeneyEpic @bjorndori but they *do* allow win32 apps in the store. That what project centennial is all about.
— Allan Lindqvist (@aL3891) 4 March 2016
One would expect the likes of Phil Spencer to jump at this, but the exact opposite happened. Instead of calling out Sweeny on his apparent lack of knowledge around UWP, the Xbox head instead clarified some of the aims that Microsoft had in place for their platform. These included support on multiple store fronts, a much more open ecosystem and a range of new tools for developers to make use of. He also stated that a lot more news around the future of UWP apps would be presented at Build, something which Sweeny himself said he’s looking forward to.
UWP is a fully open ecosystem, available to every developer, and can be supported by any store. Broad range of tools https://t.co/LqPcjRFzu9
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) 4 March 2016
Windows has always been an open ecosystem welcoming the contributions of hardware and software partners, and will always continue to be.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) 4 March 2016
So it’s a debacle that capped off a rocky week for Microsoft, but I have to hold out a little faith for Spencer and Co. Yes, games via the Windows Store right now are restrictive and weird in their design (no fullscreen, locked V-sync for starters) but I’m giving Microsoft the benefit of some time to get things in order.
Although I don’t expect many are willing to wait too long.
Last Updated: March 7, 2016
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2016 at 08:42
https://www.papermasters.com/images/monopoly.jpg
Commander Admiral Chief
March 7, 2016 at 08:50
xD
Good to see you back on form
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2016 at 08:54
So…….tired…….. though
Fox1 - Retro
March 7, 2016 at 08:55
Is the counter image Linux?
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2016 at 08:59
Well, Linux is free, but so is Win10…. hmmmmmm
HvR
March 7, 2016 at 09:02
Win 10 upgrade is free, I should know Microsoft reminds me ….. ten times a day.
Jan Prins
March 7, 2016 at 08:55
But can the same be said of Bill Gates’ Gold Plated Three Ply Bog-rolls?
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2016 at 09:00
There’s three ply toilet paper!?!?!?!?
Jan Prins
March 7, 2016 at 09:30
Any toilet paper can be two ply or four play or 8 ply or 16 ply (you get my drift) if you do some basic folding.
Pieter Kruger
March 7, 2016 at 09:12
Did you not just read the article….?????
Hammersteyn
March 7, 2016 at 10:29
Hablo no ingles
Fox1 - Retro
March 7, 2016 at 08:53
Pssst…It’s Sweeney.
Fox1 - Retro
March 7, 2016 at 08:55
Tim Sweeney, a changed man since Epic’s partnership with Samsung 😛
Pieter Kruger
March 7, 2016 at 09:14
Still remember how people went mental when Steam launched……?ROFL!
Jan Prins
March 7, 2016 at 09:23
Oh but Steam is the darling of the PC world. Steam can do no wrong. No Sirree! Steam wants your kids sacrificed on some altar in some or other heathen ceremony? You betcha them PC kids will comply.
HvR
March 7, 2016 at 09:28
Because it was a DRM abomination when it launched. Valve has since learned that giving a nice reach around helps people be more accepting.
HvR
March 7, 2016 at 09:24
There might might a published memo of an evil plan but:
In the 80’s and 90’s M$ established it’s monopoly through very shady deals and restrictive licensing agreements with OEM supplier and hardware manufactures.
They have been found to fund “think tanks” and “research groups” who then publish BS reports on how unsafe competing free O/S and dangers of GPL to the industry.
They’ve hidden/not publish parts of Windows API over the years with the intent purpose of killing off competitors in the applications market
They implemented install blocks and loops in Windows with the explicit intent of making it harder for users to install competitors applications.
They’ve run huge ad campaigns making BS claims on how Linux servers are 10 times more expensive
They have been caught out outright fabrication evidence in courts.
They blacklist journalists and reviewers who do not tow the line.
HvR
March 7, 2016 at 10:33
Five minutes after I posted this Lazygamer went down ….
Pieter Kruger
March 7, 2016 at 10:43
Ever thought maybe the tinfoil hat IS the problem……?????
iusedtobe(a)regular
March 7, 2016 at 10:52
Sweeny : MS is an evil company.
Spencer : $$$$$$$ What was that about us being evil?
Sweeny : I withdraw my previous statement. Thanks Phil
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 7, 2016 at 11:12
lol Micro$oft!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
March 7, 2016 at 13:00
HOW MUCH DID THEY PAY YOU SWEENEY!!!?? #SHOWUSTHEMONEY
Cole Train
March 7, 2016 at 16:39
See MS is actually doing things…they developed the largest OS in the world…windows 10 which has been very well received. The windows store is still being developed…and as we have seen consistently with Xbox one, MS listens to people and makes improvements. You can never make everyone happy. Windows store is fine for me…if you have legitimate issues – send them to MS in normal fashion…if you are a mindless MS hater like Sweeney…STFU.
iusedtobe(a)regular
March 7, 2016 at 22:48
“windows 10 which has been very well received.”
Only because it was free.
Cole Train
March 7, 2016 at 23:07
As it should be…its a software upgrade. Charging for it would be moronic.