Windows 12 May Require a Subscription

pcmag.com:

Evidence has appeared that Microsoft is considering releasing Windows 12 as a subscription service.

As Neowin reports, an INI configuration file in the Windows Canary channel, discovered by German website Deskmodder, includes references to a "Subscription Edition," "Subscription Type," and a "subscription status."

We currently have two main versions of Windows 11 - Home and Professional, which cost a set price and include free updates for the lifetime of the operating system. It looks as though Microsoft may change that for Windows 12, with the upfront cost replaced by an ongoing subscription charge which would limit access to features based on the subscription tier chosen.

For preconfigured desktop PCs and laptops that ship with Windows 12 preinstalled, it would allow manufacturers to lower their prices as Microsoft would likely let them install Windows 12 for free knowing that the person buying the system would need to pay a subscription.

If this turns out to be the case, we also need to consider the possibility of Microsoft offering a free tier and forcing the user to view ads placed throughout the Windows 12 experience.

Last year, it was suggested Windows 12 could be released in 2024. We've also seen a glimpse of the Windows 12 desktop at Microsoft Ignite, and more recently Microsoft has been pushing AI features pretty hard alongside its subscription model for Microsoft 365 and OneDrive. A future where a Windows 12 subscription offers access to all of Microsoft's premium services wouldn't come as too much of a surprise at this point.

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