PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and other mobile games are here for Windows 11’s Microsoft Store — here’s why you can’t play them

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What you need to know

  • Several mobile games are now available for Windows Insiders, including PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and REDnote.
  • Unfortunately, the games are only available for Insiders who are in China.
  • Microsoft announced the end of Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11 earlier this year, and the subsystem will be deprecated on March 5, 2025.

As a long-time Windows user and mobile gaming enthusiast, the recent announcement by Microsoft about the end of Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) on Windows 11 has left me both saddened and perplexed. While I understand that financial considerations play a significant role in such decisions, it’s hard not to feel a pang of disappointment when one more avenue for seamless mobile gaming on PC is being closed off.

Windows 11 is only a few months away from losing its ability to run Android apps. Microsoft announced the end of Windows Subsystem for Android on Windows 11 earlier this year, marking the end of Android apps and games in the Microsoft Store. There are some other options available, such as BlueStacks and other emulators, but the end of WSA is a blow to those who enjoy mobile gaming on PC. A lucky group of users won’t have to worry about the death of WSA, however. Microsoft and Tencent have partnered to bring several mobile games to Windows 11 and the games are now available to Insiders in China.

Microsoft’s General Manager of Apps, Giorgio Sardo, expressed his excitement about our new partnership with Tencent. This means that Windows Insiders in China can now access popular mobile apps and games such as PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, REDnote, Kuaishou, and many others on their computers through the Microsoft Store. This integration with Tencent MyApp, a prominent mobile marketplace, is made possible by our collaboration. This partnership presents promising growth prospects for Chinese mobile developers to broaden their user base and interaction on Windows.

Regrettably, the collaboration between Microsoft and Tencent won’t allow Android apps and games to continue functioning on Windows 11. The Windows Subsystem for Android is slated for deprecation by March 5, 2025.

Why did Microsoft kill Windows Subsystem for Android?

When Microsoft declared the termination of the Windows Subsystem for Android, this development caught many by surprise. Although Android applications on Windows 11 didn’t achieve significant popularity, Microsoft’s sudden decision to discontinue WSA was unexpected.

As a researcher, I’m sharing an update about a significant change in the tech landscape: A tech giant has revealed its intention to discontinue Android app support on Windows 11, effective from March 5, 2024. Microsoft has given users ample notice, with the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) not being deprecated until March 5, 2025. However, in an unexpected move, Amazon announced that their Amazon Appstore will cease operations a day earlier, on March 6, 2024, mere hours after Microsoft’s announcement regarding the end of WSA.

It was discovered later on that the reason Microsoft discontinued the Windows Subsystem for Android was because it wasn’t generating profits, according to a 29-year Microsoft veteran. In simpler terms, Microsoft wasn’t earning money through WSA.

Andrew Clinick, who spent over 29 years at Microsoft, clarified that the income generated from the store covers the expenses for the WSA team, including bills and salaries. He also mentioned that the WSL contributes to Azure and Visual Studio, making it a profitable division. Without a store, the WSA may still be impressive, but it doesn’t contribute financially to Windows.

WSA did have the Amazon Appstore, but that store was lackluster compared to the Google Play Store. Clinick went as far to say that “when Google walk away the nails were in the coffin.”

On Windows 11, numerous Android applications may fail to operate correctly when Google Play services are absent, regardless of attempts to side-load them. Furthermore, requiring users to install various app stores and manually load applications results in a suboptimal user experience.

In essence, WSA (Web Semantic Analysis) lacked a means for generating revenue, and as a result, it faced the possibility of being discontinued. It’s intriguing to consider whether Tencent’s collaboration with Microsoft, or other similar partnerships, may expand beyond China in the future. I have reached out to Microsoft for clarification on whether this partnership will extend to different regions. I’ll keep this post updated if any new details emerge.

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2024-11-13 19:39