Microsoft readies Windows 8 app store games

Microsoft is preparing a slate of games for the Windows 8 operating system that consumers will be able to purchase on the upcoming Windows Store, according to The Verge.

Some developers such as Arkadium are excited about the opportunity for games to shine on the new Microsoft operating system, whose Metro interface emphasizes ease of use and touch applications.

The games will be part of a new app-like experience for Windows users, making it a lot easier to download free and paid apps for a Windows PC. The developers will be able to submit free apps or charge $1.49 to $999 per app. Microsoft will take 30 percent of the proceeds, the same percentage taken by Facebook and Apple. But Microsoft will reduce its take to 20 percent after an app reaches $25,000 in sales. The preview version of the store is expected in late February.

The new games include:

Hydro Thunder
Toy Soldiers
Reckless Racing
Angry Birds
Ilomilo
Rocket Riot
Full House Poker
Tentacles
Crash Course
Ms Splosion Man
Wordament

Dean Takahashi

Dean Takahashi is editorial director for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He has been a tech journalist since 1988, and he has covered games as a beat since 1996. He was lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat from 2008 to April 2025. Prior to that, he wrote for the San Jose Mercury News, the Red Herring, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the Dallas Times-Herald. He is the author of two books, "Opening the Xbox" and "The Xbox 360 Uncloaked." He organizes the annual GamesBeat Next, GamesBeat Summit and GamesBeat Insider Series: Hollywood and Games conferences and is a frequent speaker at gaming and tech events. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.