> Likewise, Valve fears that Microsoft will eat their cake. MS could lock down their platform, and force all software sales through a store where they take a 30% cut, just like iOS and Android do already.
This isn't theoretical, right? It was stated upfront as a plan for Windows 10 and it inspired Valve to invest in Linux/SteamOS/Steam Box ecosystem.
There are (were?) specific versions of windows that only allow software to be installed from the Microsoft store. Generally, the come on really low-end cheap laptops, with the note that it's for improved security (and I'm sure there's a discount on the cost of Windows, which is what makes it attractive to manufacturers).
This isn't theoretical, right? It was stated upfront as a plan for Windows 10 and it inspired Valve to invest in Linux/SteamOS/Steam Box ecosystem.