Microsoft categorizes advertisements as suggestions within Windows 11, which are visible in multiple sections of the operating system including the Start menu, Settings app, Lock screen, File Explorer, and more. However, numerous users find these suggestions unhelpful, primarily showcasing Microsoft Store applications.
Currently, Microsoft is testing out suggestions within the Microsoft Store app itself. These recommendations only appear while utilizing the app and carrying out a search, exhibiting two or three suggestions at a time.
Within the most recent Windows 11 Insider build, the presence of these suggestions was verified autonomously. It remains uncertain if this feature will be integrated into stable versions, although the chances are high.
These suggestions predominantly showcase games, promoting well-known titles like Homescapes, Forza Horizon 5, or Sea of Thieves 2024 Edition. Some of these games are free-to-play with in-game purchases, while others necessitate an initial payment.
Microsoft considers this as a strategy to endorse games and applications to users, though it is ambiguous if Microsoft receives compensation for these placements.
When juxtaposed with Google Play and Apple’s App Store, the Microsoft Store features fewer advertisements or sponsored material. Many Windows users opt to download software from alternative sources due to the limited variety in the Microsoft Store.
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