One other week, one other Microsoft characteristic bites the mud – help for Android apps and video games in Windows is getting the chop. Beginning subsequent 12 months, customers will want a third-party various resolution to run Android apps in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
It’s because the official Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) app, an official Microsoft app that allows Windows 11 to run Android purposes natively, will not be supported and Home windows customers gained’t be capable to entry the Amazon Appstore immediately on Home windows. Assist for WSA is slated to finish this time subsequent 12 months on March 5, 2025.
This information appeared in a discover added to the technical documentation for Windows Subsystem for Android. On this discover, Microsoft states that customers can count on to entry any Android apps they’ve put in this fashion (and from the Amazon Appstore) up till the date help is totally deprecated.
According to Android Authority, after March 5, 2025, customers will be unable to entry any Android apps that depend on WSA. It additionally appears affordable to imagine that after this date, customers gained’t be capable to set up the WSA app, or set up any new Android apps from the Amazon retailer.
The upcoming actuality for Android app followers
If you wish to use an app that’s not on observe to be deprecated or are on the lookout for a substitute when March 5, 2025 rolls round, you’ll be able to flip to unofficial third-party apps that can allow you to run Android apps on Home windows.
If it’s simply video games for Android that you simply’re considering, there may be an official resolution on supply from Google, Google Play Games, which makes a whole lot of Android video games in a position to be performed on PCs operating Home windows 10 and Home windows 11. Google Play Video games remains to be in beta, however you’ll be able to obtain it from the official website.
The loss of life of WSA may be very disappointing information from Microsoft and takes away choices for a way customers can use their PCs, presumably a transfer made within the identify of capping the visibility of opponents inside Microsoft’s flagship operating system. That is purely in Microsoft’s curiosity and comes on the detriment of customers’ selection, and can drive customers who wish to run Android apps to search out workarounds. One of many principal appeals of Home windows towards opponents like ChromeOS and macOS is the pliability and customizability of the working system, and strikes like this solely serve to kneecap that promoting level.
I assume Microsoft hopes this would possibly drive these customers to the Microsoft Retailer and think about getting Microsoft-issued apps as a substitute, however the choices of the Microsoft Retailer are one thing missing. I hope that Microsoft has substantial plans to enhance the Microsoft Retailer if it’s going to remove what was largely seen as a secure (and roughly simple) platform that expanded the apps accessible to customers by a sizeable quantity.
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