you can change where all apps store in some way i know i managed to do it because i install all windows 10 games on an external harddrive lol because removing all the crap is hard so i can just format the drive xD

For MS mix reality headset, I do not believe they care where the games and software come from since they want to be the platform for the hardware device as well. In other words, they want to be the windows for AR/VR. I am sure MS will try to make deals with Facebook as well to support their platform since they are closure to them then I would think Valve.

As for the windows store, I have huge problems with it and pretty much will not purchase anything from it again. I bought Minecraft from the store. The game is tied to my account, I cannot have my son log into the PC to play the game unless he is logged into my account. There is no sharing option or anything. Making PC games tied to one account makes the store useless.

I wouldn't say they will entirely, but it would be nice if they tossed more towards Steam. I'm aware of the 30% cut, but it's not the end of the world when Steam has the bigger number of users than those using Win 10 and it's very, very tiny library.

Also, MS really badly needs to work on Win 10 store, it's still missing a ton of features and QoL aspects that Steam and other clients have had for years now.

Nope. They will fight against it as long as possible until they stop making games.

I hope so.

Well you see... instead of helping  windows create  a hub of centralized gaming Microsoft decided to focus on consoles. Steam took the real estate.

I think Microsoft will rather stop releasing games on pc than embracing Steam. For example, Halo Wars 2 online community is a ghost town on pc, but Microsoft rather let it die than bringing it to Steam. The release of Halo Wars: DE on Steam was probably meant to get pc gamers interested in the Halo franchise, hoping that they would buy Halo Wars 2 (and next year Halo 6) in the Windows Store.

Microsofts main goal is to push more people into the Windows Store and the Xbox Live ecosystem. Bringing 1st party games to Windows 10, Play Anywhere, Age of Empires 4 etc are all meant to achieve that. Steam is their biggest competitor

Steam is by far the best ecosystem for gaming:

- Steam has plenty of options to find the game you may like: a custom store page based on your preferences and play history, a discovery cue, curators etc...

- Steam is a semi-open ecosystem, where anyone can publish games without ridiculous lisence fees, requirements and policies. All features that Steam offers, including Steamworks and DRM, are free to use, but completely optional.

- All devs and publishers can generate keys for their games FOR FREE, to sell on their own website or in competing 3rd party keystores. This has lead to much cheaper games than any other gaming ecosystem.

- Steam supports and motivates mods and community content with their excellent Workshop

- Steam supports family sharing and has a no-nonsene offline mode

- Steam has great sales, available for everyone without the need of a paid subscription

- While Steam is far from perfect, Valve never tried anti-consumer stuff like paying for online gaming, putting features behind a paywall, moneyhatting 3rd party devs for exclusives, parity clauses etc. Their introduction of paid mods was a mistake, but they've turned that back within a week.

If you compare this to the Windows Store:

- A mobile-like store with more bugs than features. Downloads often fail. Store page is filled with shovelware.

- Separate XBox App needed for online interaction

- AAA games cost €70 outside the US, which is €10-€20 more than similar AAA-games on Steam

- Terrible sales, often only for Gold members or Game Pass owners

- Devs are prohibited to sell keys outside the Windows Store

- Games are stored in encrypted container, so no mods or free community content

- Microsoft has a terrible history of bad decisions: GFWL, trying to force paid online gaming on pc, the initial Xbox One DRM etc etc

No. Steam is an enemy to Microsoft. What they are trying to do right now with Windows 10 and the Windows Store ist to take over market share from steam. Co-operation is not an option.

It would be friggin' epic though if we would get Steam on Xbox One X. That could be a real game changer. But it won't happen.

Do what you can to survive I guess.