Microsoft Store cuts publishing fee for small-time developers

Microsoft has announced a significant change for small-time developers in its Microsoft Store. The company has eliminated the one-time $19 onboarding fee that individual developers previously had to pay to publish their apps and games on the store. This move aims to create a more inclusive and accessible platform, empowering more developers to innovate and thrive within the Windows ecosystem. The change removes the requirement for developers to share their payment details with Microsoft, reducing a key barrier to entry. Microsoft states that this decision will benefit creators around the world, as they no longer need a credit card to get started. According to the company, the Microsoft Store currently has over 250 million monthly active users, and this change is intended to spur more active development of apps, including small-time apps and utilities, to help fill gaps on the platform. All app types, including Win32, UWP, PWA, .NET MAUI, and Electron apps, are welcome on the store. While individual developers still need to sign in with a personal Microsoft account and provide a selfie plus a valid government-issued ID, the elimination of the onboarding fee is expected to make the Microsoft Store more accessible and attractive to a broader range of developers.