For several years in a row, Microsoft tried to prove to the world that the Universal Windows Platform, introduced in 2015 along with Windows 10, is the future of applications and games for Windows on devices of all form factors. Shortly after the death of Windows 10 Mobile, it became apparent that UWP was not particularly popular with developers. Although the store has some very good examples of high-quality UWP applications and games, Microsoft realized that in order to attract developers (especially games) to its store, something needs to be changed. So recently, support for Win32 games appeared in the store, which made life easier for developers, and also opened the way to the Microsoft Store for many games without the need for additional optimizations or changes.
The Coalition, the developer of the Gears of War series of games, will join the list of developers taking advantage of the opportunity to publish Win32 games in the Microsoft Store. The Coalition's senior community manager said on his Twitter account that Gears 5 will be a Win32 game, not a UWP. Since Gears 5 will be released not only in the Microsoft Store, but also in Steam, the choice of Win32 looks like a reasonable and logical solution, simplifying the transfer of the project to the store more popular among PC gamers.
UWP so far will not disappear, but even for Microsoft itself it is obvious that this is a dead end branch of development. The Universal Windows Platform will continue to exist, but it will no longer make such great accents as it did in the first couple of years of the existence of Windows 10.
Gears 5 will be released on Xbox One and PC (Microsoft Store and Steam) on September 10. The game will also be available on the first day of an Xbox Game Pass subscription, and those who pre-ordered the Gears 5 Ultimate Edition will be able to start playing on September 6th. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate season ticket holders will also have early access.
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