While Tom's Guide generally likes Windows 10 (if not its own creation), the Microsoft Store is a different story. Microsoft's built-in app store is an inconvenient and unintuitive experience for both users and developers. However, Microsoft seems to be keenly aware of this and is planning a major overhaul for later this year.

The story comes from sources close to Windows Central, a trusted news site about Microsoft's popular operating system. Since the information in question does not come directly from Microsoft, it is fair to take it with a grain of salt--even if it is accurate now, it could change by the end of the year. Still, the proposed changes seem reasonable and in line with Microsoft's overall strategy of making Windows 10 more intuitive.

If this effort is successful, the Microsoft Store could create a one-stop shop for finding and purchasing Windows software, rather than relying on a thousand different websites.

The revamped Microsoft Store could be part of a major Windows 10 update called Sun Valley, which is said to be coming in late 2021. The update is set to change the look and feel of many Windows built-in apps. [The Microsoft Store, in particular, looks to have a new layout, a new interface, new icons, and new animations. This will be a big change from the Store's current "static images on a white background" look.

Windows Central reports that the redesigned Microsoft Store will add new features every month and will also improve the stability of large file downloads. Currently, attempting to download large files (such as games) from the store takes a long time and often results in an error message.

Microsoft also appears to be guiding more developers to use the Microsoft Store to distribute their software, rather than individual websites. The redesigned Microsoft Store will reportedly allow developers to submit Win32 applications anywhere, rather than packaging them as cumbersome MSIX files.

The bigger news, however, is that Microsoft will reportedly allow developers to adopt their own content delivery system and commerce platform for store apps. This would eliminate the need for Microsoft to broker updates and in-app purchases, and allow developers to keep all profits from microtransactions. If true, this arrangement would be an industry first.

To spearhead the debut of the refreshed Microsoft Store, Windows Central reported that Redmond will make popular first-party programs available through the Microsoft Store. This would include Microsoft Office, Teams, Edge, and Visual Studio, all of which currently have their own distribution platforms and only indirect ties to the Store.

While much could change between now and the Sun Valley update, a revamped Microsoft Store seems like a promising idea. Microsoft has already demonstrated the power of a unified interface with the Xbox app, and Windows 10 seems like the next logical frontier.