14 DAY TRIAL // A few weeks ago, it has emerged that Microsoft doesn’t allow “Mature” rated games to be sold in its Windows Store, which basically meant that Windows 8 users had no other choice than to buy these games either from Steam or from any other retailer.
While these guidelines were clearly explained in the Windows Store guidelines, a Microsoft executive revealed that “Mature” games will still be listed in the Store.
The company indeed reverses its policy, but that would take a while to go into effect, Windows Corporate VP of Web Services Antoine Leblond told Gizmodo.
The change will take place before the New Year, most likely in December, he explained.
"This is to give developers a heads up that that's where we're going," Leblond said. "So they can have the peace of mind around developing the kinds of games that will have those ratings."
Surprisingly, Microsoft’s very own guidelines on the apps to be listed on Windows Store are still claiming that “Mature” apps are not allowed.
“Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or that contain content that would warrant such a rating, are not allowed. Metadata and other content you submit to accompany your app may contain only content that would merit a rating of PEGI 12, ESRB EVERYONE, or Windows Store 12+, or lower,” the guidelines read.
Of course, even if these games are not allowed yet in the Windows Store, gamers could still deploy a “Mature” rated title on a Windows 8 machine in the traditional way.
The only thing they can’t do however is to buy and install such games through the Windows Store.