Universal Windows apps will be available for Xbox One too, but Microsoft will curate them

As was expected, Microsoft today announced Universal Windows apps at its BUILD 2014 event. These apps will run across devices such as desktops, tablets and even its gaming console Xbox One. Developers can build and sell apps on all these platforms by adopting Microsoft’s new tools.   Depending upon whether the intended platform uses a mouse and keyboard or not, the developers will be able to tweak the User Interface (UI) of the app using Microsoft Tools. For the Xbox though it would still be more than just tweaking the UI. Developers will have to customise their apps for the console’s controller and Kinect. [caption id=“attachment_217157” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Xbox One all set for Universal Windows apps[/caption] In a chat with Engadget, Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president in the Developer Platform and Evangelism Group gave a little more insight into how this would work. Unlike desktop and tablets, the apps for Xbox platform will still be curated. The development team of the console will have a say in deciding whether the app is good enough to be on Xbox store. But the final decision will eventually be taken by Microsoft.   According to The Verge, although a single app can be used across all three platforms one thing could turn prospective users away. Microsoft stated that users might need to pay fee for using the app on the phone and desktop or have a single purchase grant access to them both. This would enable the developers to avoid frustration of splitting their apps; which has been the case with those developers who are working on Apple’s iOS and OS X platforms.   As Microsoft fights a battle to keep Windows and PCs relevant, Universal Windows apps couldn’t have come at a better time. This will attract and encourage more developers who have been primarily targeting mobile platforms. And it also opens up new revenue streams. By adding cross-platform support, Microsoft will be able to have a tighter ecosystem lock-in on existing users.