Developers accelerate the transition off Windows phones

Oct 26, 2017 06:20 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has recently acknowledged that Windows 10 Mobile entered maintenance mode, with no new features or hardware planned anytime soon, so it makes sense for both developers and users to start looking for alternatives.

The transition off Windows phone is accelerating these days, with more app makers dropping support for Microsoft’s mobile operating system and switching the focus entirely to Android and iOS.

Today, two large companies announced that Windows phones are no longer part of their plans, encouraging users to migrate to alternative platforms as well.

First and foremost it’s Garmin, whose Vivoactive 3 activity tracker no longer supports Windows phones. In a statement for WindowsUnited, the company confirmed that future devices won’t work on Windows phones either, as it doesn’t support the platform anymore.

Older Garmin devices should be able to pair with Windows phones, but it remains to be seen for how long, given that the parent company is expected to pull the companion app as well.

A trend that’s likely to continue

And then, it’s Gameloft, who recently confirmed that three its of its popular mobile games would drop support for Windows phones. Dungeon Hunter 5, Sniper Fury, and Modern Combat 5 will no longer receive updates on Microsoft’s mobile platform, and Gameloft tells users to migrate to Android and iOS as soon as possible.

“For Windows Phone users: Microsoft announced recently that they are discontinuing development of this platform. For that reason, we will not be able to keep creating updates for DH5 for Windows Phones, and we are giving Windows Phones users the possibility to switch to an iOS/Android/PC device. This action is irreversible, so please be sure of your choice,” a company official said on the forums.

Unfortunately for Microsoft and users who still want to stick with Windows phones, this is a trend that’s likely to continue in the coming weeks and months, as developers whose apps are available on the platform can no longer find a reason to ship updates for a dead mobile operating system.