MSIX Installer: Microsoft used Developer Day to introduce a new format called MSIX that supports UWP and Win32 software.
Essentially, MSIX Installer can replace both APPX (previously used for Microsoft Store) and MSI (which was launched for Win32 packaging) and brings more security options with application customization.
With this new format, Microsoft is essentially bringing Store and Win32 apps together, eliminating one of the biggest pain points for developers developing software for the Windows platform. With a unified format, devs can now rely on a single installer that can either be published to the Microsoft Store or distributed through custom content distribution networks.
The new MSIX format is open source, and Microsoft has already published the SDK on GitHub, offering cross-platform API support.
"The MSIX Packaging SDK project is an effort to enable developers across platforms to package and unpack packages from either the Microsoft Store or their own content distribution network," Microsoft explains.
MSIX could also help Microsoft bring more apps to the Microsoft Store while making it easier for developers to bring more games. What will be more interesting, though, is whether MSIX has what it takes to address criticisms about Microsoft's aggressive strategy of moving games to the Microsoft Store, an approach that has drawn criticism from several leading industry figures.
It remains to be seen how many developers will embrace this new packaging format, but considering the advantages it offers, Microsoft will promote it as much as possible.
