Aoe 1 definitive version available on Age of Empires: Definitive Edition and Microsoft Store
Aoe 1 definitive version available on Age of Empires: Definitive Edition and Microsoft Store
It's alright. The gaming scene is split for several reasons. If you purchase CoD: Advanced Warfare from the Windows store, you can't play with others on Steam. It seems (I'm not sure if this applies anymore) that "Universal Windows Apps" run in fullscreen mode, preventing exclusive graphics control. I appreciate the Xbox Play Anywhere function—it's often overlooked and underused by developers. The platform is still developing and has much room for improvement. It's not a huge deal, though. A bit disappointing that AoE 1 will remain exclusive to the Microsoft Store, but they mentioned similar concerns about Quantum Break on Steam. Perhaps give it a little more time?
It was among the three main reasons I stayed away from upgrading to Windows 10. It’s really poor quality and tightly built into the system, turning it into unnecessary bloat. I’m happy I never have to encounter it again.
I won't purchase anything from the Windows Store as it doesn't allow installation on my StableBit DrivePool arrays. It also divides the market between different platforms, with Steam being the most popular. If I can't access games across multiple devices through Steam, then it doesn't qualify as a Universal Windows App, since Steam enables play on Windows 7 and other UWP apps don't.
It limits my ability to tailor the options meaningfully, often forcing trade-offs like turning off other functions or losing my saved settings with each update. The operating system tends to crash unexpectedly, making it unreliable. In my experience, trying to use the hardware has been problematic, with frequent bugs and unstable performance. For my friend, I’ve had to repeatedly reset his Windows installation because of ongoing issues, especially when he needed support features that conflicted with his setup.
Sharing a link to TheViper, a prominent AOE2 player who streams frequently. He collaborated on a video featuring an AOE definitive edition.
Microsoft has disrupted many gaming experiences by restricting access to their titles. A free drive was suddenly removed without notice. Users of Windows 7 and 8 found themselves forced to upgrade to Windows 10 without clear choice. Microsoft’s assurance of regular updates for all systems until 2020 was broken, as they blocked updates for newer CPUs like Kaby Lake. Although a patch helped, it didn’t fully resolve the issue. Over the years, promises about PC gaming support from Microsoft remained unfulfilled. Ensemble Studios, once a top developer, shut down after years of development, leaving behind a notable game. The shift to UWP has reduced performance and control compared to previous versions. Windows 10 is seen as similarly flawed. Microsoft’s commitments have often been ignored, leading to unpredictable behavior. Purchasing from Microsoft means temporary access—no long-term certainty. Their recent actions suggest prioritizing control over user experience, making it risky to rely on their services for future play.
I completely understood your point. Microsoft has often had questionable choices, especially after Windows 7, even though Vista was a preview of what came next. Personally, I’d like to play this game, but seeing it only available on the Microsoft Store makes me less excited about buying it there. Switching to Steam would change things, but we’ll have to keep an eye on it. Who were the people behind these decisions?