This morning on the first day of Build 2017, Microsoft shared that there were nearly 700 million Windows 10 connected devices worldwide. Marking a jump from November’s 600 million figure, the news opened the door for the company to give its Windows 10 developers more ways to make money.
Indeed, Microsoft also said it is working on a new Microsoft Store fee structure which should put more money into the pockets of Windows developers. The structure only applies to purchases of consumer applications (not games) made on Windows PCs, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, Windows phones, and Surface Hub devices.
According to Microsoft, the new structure will be available in detail in an upcoming revision to the App Developer Agreement later this year. The specifics of the structure was explained by the Microsoft Store team:
Starting later this year, consumer applications (not including games) sold in Microsoft Store will deliver to developers 95% of the revenue earned from the purchase of your application or any in-app products in your application, when a customer uses a deep link to get to and purchase your application.
The new structure also impacts the ways developers make money if an app is promoted on Microsoft properties. Here’s more on that:
When Microsoft delivers you a customer through any other method, such as in a collection on Microsoft Store or any other owned Microsoft properties, and purchases your application, you will receive 85% of the revenue earned from the purchase of your application or any in-app products in your application.
Interestingly, the fee structure also applies to apps available on the earlier version of Windows, including Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x. Current fee structures will continue to apply on Xbox One. More information is available here.
