[Hiopl]

> These changes will allow developers to bring their Win32 apps to the new Store without any changes to their existing code. In the past, developers were required to package their Win32 apps as an MSIX, and were forced to use Microsoft's own store-driven update and commerce platforms. This will no longer be necessary with the new Store.

I'm so relieved at this and hope these changes make their way to the Xbox app. Their store platform has been the worst thing I've seen in gaming in recent years. I've never had as much trouble getting games installed or updated as I have with the MS store. There's also their efforts to prevent users from modifying game files unless developers explicitly allow it, which would've prevented things like the absolutely necessary unofficial patches for Nier Automata.

[WorldMaker]

MSIX packages have a lot of very interesting technical support for "overlays" that could be used for some very powerful mod/patch support if there was a good UI for it and maybe sideloading support with a good UI for it.

You couldn't just open File Explorer and expect to fiddle bits directly in Notepad.exe, but MSIX had the capabilities to create a "Package Explorer" to fiddle some bits in Notepad.exe (or whatever) and then package the fiddling into an overlay.

A couple games have used a subset of this tech to provide official mod support, but yeah it's overall a shame that Microsoft teased the idea of but never quite developed a general option/solution for "MSIX mods" at a high level despite having most of the platform tech for it.

[patentatt]

So what does the store experience bring me then? My favorite part is the unified update management. If apps aren’t automatically updated, what value is the store bringing that an .msi isn’t?

[WorldMaker]

Beyond automatic updating, the Store up until now guaranteed Clean Uninstall. Most of what is left of MSIX package restrictions after all the "Project Reunion" stuff so far and Win32 support is just to fit that guarantee. If the Store is just installing random EXEs and MSIs like it is 1999 again, how long until we get back to the "I need a cleaner app to clean up all the other apps I just uninstalled" nonsense?

[Hiopl]

Why would it be any different than it is now other than having a slightly more centralized platform? Do you use a cleaner now? Unless you're installing junk, you don't need one.

[WorldMaker]

I actually have been using the Store since Windows 8. There have been apps I've tried that I never would have installed from an EXE or an MSI. Relatedly, I've also got less tech savvy family that I've been able to recommend stick to "S Mode", install everything from the Store, and I don't worry about them calling me in a few months that something is mysteriously broken or that the system is full of junk they can't uninstall.

It's a huge difference if the Store is just another distribution point for random EXE/MSI installers that can do whatever they want, install where ever they want, and may or may not clean up after themselves on uninstall.