Microsoft commits to open app stores as consolidation concerns increase

pcgamesinsider.biz:

Tech and games giant Microsoft has published a set of principles for how it is approaching its app stores in the face of concerns about consolidation within the games space.

In a post on its website, the company said that it would continue to allow any developers use its platform, while also making sure that products on its service meet security standards. The Big M says that it will be holding its own products to the same standards as third parties.

Microsoft has also committed to keep Call of Duty available on other platforms in the wake of its plans to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion.

"Ultimately, we believe that this principled approach will promote a more open app market and better serve our users and creators alike," Microsoft president and vice-chair Brad Smith wrote.

"And, in turn, they will help us build a bigger and better gaming business.

Here is the full list of principles that Microsoft announced: 

Quality, Safety, Security & Privacy

1. We will enable all developers to access our app store as long as they meet reasonable and transparent standards for quality and safety.

2. We will continue to protect the consumers and gamers who use our app store, ensuring that developers meet our standards for security.

3. We will continue to respect the privacy of consumers in our app stores, giving them controls to manage their data and how it is used.

Accountability

4. We will hold our own apps to the same standards we hold competing apps.

5. We will not use any non-public information or data from our app store to compete with developers' apps.

Fairness and Transparency

6. We will treat apps equally in our app store without unreasonable preferencing or ranking of our apps or our business partners' apps over