Microsoft is competing with Steam.
It’s not ready for powerful games yet.
There’s no problem with getting Candy Crush Saga or other simple mobile games from the Windows Store.
The Universal App Platform is ideal for simple things like that.
But Rise of the Tomb Raider demonstrates just how limited universal apps are.
Universal Apps vs.
Desktop Apps
Steam and other PC gaming services distribute games as traditional Windows desktop applications.
You buy a game, it downloads the .exe or .msi installer and installs it.
That’s why there’s such a huge difference here.
It’s not just the limitations of the Store itself.
Microsoft’s new app platform has improved dramatically fromthe state it was in back in Windows 8.
But it’s still not as powerful as the Windows desktop platform.
It may one day be, but it isn’t there yet.
First up, there are serious limitations when it comes to making use of your graphics hardware.
Steam May Need Competition, But Not From the Windows Store
None of this is just speculation.
“Sorry, unfortunately disabling VSync is not supported in the UWP framework currently,” the representative wrote.
Yes, you read that right: Even support for the Windows Store app is happening on Steam.
But Microsoft’s crippled Windows Store versions of games aren’t the solution.
If you want more competition in PC gaming, you should bet on a competing store likeGOGor even EA’sOrigin.
Update: Microsoft Responds
Microsoft responded to our article, and promised to improve in the future.
Interestingly enough, he said that SLI and Crossfire do work if the game supports it.
Rise of the Tomb Raider gives us the opportunity to compare and contrast the platforms.
Microsoft has announced plans to only release Quantum Break through the Windows Store.
