Windows will soon let you download the Epic Games Store as an app as it announces a significant update that will allow third-party apps to be discoverable on the Microsoft Store. As detailed as part of a wider blog post, the Windows team says that both Amazon and Epic Games will be bringing their apps to the Microsoft Store and that it is looking forward to welcoming further stores in the future.
In a similar fashion to apps on the store, third-party storefronts will have a product detail page that allows their customers to check out user reviews and notable information about an app before installing it. Windows has said that the decision to bring in third-party storefront apps shows its "commitment to being an open store for an open platform".
While the arrival of Windows 11 on October 5 will bring with the public launch of a new Microsoft Store, third-party storefront apps won't be rolling out immediately. Despite the fact that Epic Games and Amazon will act as the first companies to bring their storefront apps over to the Microsoft store, this will take place over the next few months.
As for the free Windows 11 upgrade, Microsoft has confirmed that the new version of the operating system will be phased in gradually. The company previously said that new eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first, with support for other models rolling out thereafter. Although this may mean that many people won't be able to access Windows 11 until the beginning of next year at the earliest, all eligible devices are expected to be offered the upgrade by mid-2022. For those unsure about upgrading to Windows 11, don't panic, for Windows 10 is expected to still be supported until October 2025.
For more on Windows 11, make sure to check out this article detailing a range of new features that will be coming with the update including Windows widgets, auto HDR gaming, and a new and improved experience for tablet users. Alternatively, for those looking to check out the system requirements needed to run Windows 11, you can do so here.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.