Home Gaming Windows 10 will be free for one year (Update)

Windows 10 will be free for one year (Update)

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Windows 10 logo

Microsoft is kicking off their year early with an in-depth, brand new look at Windows 10 at an exclusive event tonight. Many have believed for years that Microsoft should shift their business model to a more Service based enterprise, monetizing applications rather than the Windows platform altogether. Well they’re finally agreeing.

Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade to anyone on Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and Windows Phone 8.1 for a year after launch. They hope this will encourage everyone to upgrade to their new operating system, which will be identical across all of their devices.

It also gives consumers some time to check out the operating system for a whole year without any real risk. Windows 10 is bringing with it a host of new UI features, including the true return of the Start button, as well as a new Internet Explorer, Cortana and universal app support for all Windows devices. That’s including the Xbox One.

At the time of writing, Microsoft has yet to announce a release date for Windows 10.

Update: Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 will not be an annual subscription based OS. If you upgrade during the free year, Windows 10 and all updates will remain yours for absolutely nothing extra.

Last Updated: January 21, 2015

26 Comments

  1. Time to dust of that well put (thrown) away W8 copy of mine.
    So did they get a Prada/Versace assistant to present this briefing?

    Reply

  2. Gustav Minnie

    January 21, 2015 at 20:13

    That Battletoad shirt……

    Reply

  3. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    January 21, 2015 at 20:20

    Thereafter, it will roll you over a barrel and roger you while it smokes dollar bills.

    Reply

  4. Pieter Kruger

    January 21, 2015 at 20:23

    Cross-Platform play!!!! ????

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      January 21, 2015 at 23:41

      Finally Microsoft joins the rest of us in the 21st century. Cross-plat play is so 2010.

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        January 21, 2015 at 23:46

        I’m happy that you’re happy!????

        Reply

  5. Pieter Kruger

    January 21, 2015 at 20:24

    Streaming of Xbox Games to PC! ????

    Reply

  6. Pieter Kruger

    January 21, 2015 at 20:34

    MS Surface Hub……..How Much?

    Reply

  7. Kagutsuchi

    January 21, 2015 at 20:35

    Does this mean it will be a like a year subscription? So after a year, you have to pay for it?

    Reply

  8. Blood Emperor Trevor

    January 21, 2015 at 20:43

    That’s nice, I was planning on it anyway. Now just tell me how much?

    Reply

  9. Marc O Polo

    January 21, 2015 at 21:15

    That would involve actually having a legitimate copy of Windows…. Now where be my eye patch

    Reply

  10. house_hero

    January 21, 2015 at 21:48

    Okay… I’m really confused… Is it free for anyone that upgrades in the first year… OR… is it free for a year, and then you pay?

    Reply

    • Gustav Minnie

      January 21, 2015 at 22:20

      It’s free if you have a legit copy of Win 7/8.1
      My question is let’s say I have Win8 Pro and you have Win8 Enterprise do you still have the extra features after the upgrade?
      It’s a bit unclear but what will they charge you for after you upgraded?
      A subscription? Doubt it… it’s all about numbers.

      Reply

      • house_hero

        January 22, 2015 at 16:20

        Good question. I need Pro for my work.

        Reply

  11. Francois Knoetze

    January 22, 2015 at 08:20

    anybody have an idea what the new xbox one UI looks like?

    Reply

    • Ghost In The Rift

      January 22, 2015 at 08:21

      The Windows 10 UI?

      Reply

      • Francois Knoetze

        January 22, 2015 at 08:27

        facepalm…ok never mind then..thought it might look a bit different

        Reply

        • Ghost In The Rift

          January 22, 2015 at 08:33

          Lol dont worry, i had the same idea, hope we can customize, is gonna look boring real if all your devices have the same UI.

          Reply

          • Francois Knoetze

            January 22, 2015 at 08:46

            only my xbox will have that UI…I have no windows pc’s anymore and converted to that dreaded half eaten fruit company that supplies overpriced phones and shiny laptops with retina displays that burn through your brain many moons ago.

          • Ghost In The Rift

            January 22, 2015 at 08:49

            LOL i’m more of a Mango type of guy, will never give in to Apples trickery, Steve Jobs might just be Loki lol

          • Francois Knoetze

            January 22, 2015 at 08:56

            I prefer peaches and watermelons to be honest 😛 unfortunately there are no companies like that and one of them might make obscure tech resembling a woman’s derrière

  12. Ghost In The Rift

    January 22, 2015 at 08:20

    Think its time i get my self that thing they call SSD:-D

    Reply

  13. Spathi

    January 22, 2015 at 08:33

    Nice work MS!

    Reply

  14. Gideon Venter

    January 22, 2015 at 10:17

    Free upgrade? Good move. I have to ask though, If I decide to rebuild my PC after this free is done, how do I get Windows again?

    Reply

    • umfezo

      January 22, 2015 at 11:00

      Sacrifice a small goat and stuff it into your printer. Windows 10 will then be installed.

      Reply

    • Lynley James

      January 22, 2015 at 18:32

      Assume that your key will give you access to Win10 as during upgrade the key will be registered against that or a new key will generate allowing you to upgrade in future. That or just never, ever reinstall 🙂

      Reply

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