In an impassioned op-ed, Epic Games co-founder Tim Sweeney spoke out against Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP) initiative in Windows 10, accusing the tech-giant of using the platform to "lock down the consumer PC ecosystem" and monopolize "app distribution and commerce."
"With its new Universal Windows Platform (UWP) initiative, Microsoft has built a closed platform-within-a-platform into Windows 10, as the first apparent step towards locking down the consumer PC ecosystem and monopolizing app distribution and commerce," he said. "Microsoft has launched new PC Windows features exclusively in UWP and is effectively telling developers you can use these Windows features only if you submit to the control of our locked-down UWP ecosystem."
"PC UWP can, should, must, and will die as a result of industry backlash," Sweeney said.
UWP is part of Microsoft's effort to create universal apps that are compatible with all sizes and types of devices, including Windows 10 PCs, mobiles, tablets and even Internet of Things devices. Sweeney noted that while he is not opposed to the Windows Store as a concept, he objects to the notion that all UWP apps must be sold through the store, where Microsoft receives a 30 percent cut of all sales made.
In a bid to counter this, Sweeney suggests that Microsoft treat UWP apps the same way they would Win32 programs, thus allowing them to be distributed directly to customers like what is seen in services like Steam and GOG.
"The ultimate danger here is that Microsoft continually improves UWP while neglecting and even degrading Win32, over time making it harder for developers and publishers to escape from Microsoft's new UWP commerce monopoly," Sweeney wrote. "Ultimately, the open Win32 Windows experience could be relegated to Enterprise and Developer editions of Windows."
Microsoft's steps toward implementing a "walled garden" approach, made popular by Apple's iOS, on the PC are being met with stiff opposition from not only producers but consumers as well. One such case was the result of the announcement of Microsoft's upcoming game, "Quantum Break." Not only is it exclusive to Windows 10, it will also only be made available as a UWP application sold through the Windows Store - a move that imparts a variety of restrictions on the software, such as being unable to turn off V-sync and the inability to customize mouse or keyboard bindings.
Microsoft's Phil Spencer took to Twitter to address those concerns, saying that Microsoft has "plans to improve."
However, these improvements won't be coming soon enough for Sweeney who questions if Microsoft believes that indepenent PC developers and publishers are willing to submit themselves to the UWP API.
"Does Microsoft really think that independent PC developers and publishers, who cherish their freedom and their direct customer relationships, are going to sign up for this current UWP fiasco?" asks Sweeney.
Even with this argument in place, it should be noted that Epic still has "Gears of War: Ultimate Edition" is still available on the very Windows Store that Sweeney fears.
