14 DAY TRIAL // If Microsoft closes down the PC platform with its upcoming Windows 8 operating system, then quite a few independent developers are worried that it’s going to result in plenty of problems and will force them to abandon it.
Windows 8, the next big operating system from Microsoft, is set to appear this October. Sadly, by changing quite a lot of things and implementing a proprietary App Store, game developers aren’t exactly thrilled with the new experience.
Some, including Valve boss Gabe Newell, called Windows 8 a catastrophe, while Blizzard’s Rob Pardo agreed with him.
Now, Dean Hall, the creator of the DayZ mod for Arma II, believes Windows 8 could stunt the recent growth experienced by the platform.
"PC Games have always been gamers' games, edgy and adapting fast. With the consoles hitting the end of their life, it would seem PC gaming appears - in the short term at least - to be pushing forward pretty strongly," Hall told GamesIndustry.
"Overall, it feels too early to say for most of us I think. It's definitely a concern, there are some worrying statements that make you wonder whether the intention is to try and emulate what their competitors are doing, or drive their own space through innovation. My preference is always for the latter," Hall concluded.
His feelings are echoed by Brad Wardell of Stardock, who believes that Gabe Newell is right about the catastrophe statement. He hopes, however, that "the market will be able to adapt to the wrongheaded strategy Microsoft is employing with Windows 8."
As of yet, Microsoft hasn’t commented on these statements about its upcoming Windows 8 operating system. Given the company’s confidence in its OS, you can expect it to reinforce its feature and ignore the warnings from the actual game developers.