Home / Software & Gaming / Apps / Microsoft has turned Solitaire in to a freemium game

Microsoft has turned Solitaire in to a freemium game

Windows 10 is out now, bringing with it many welcomed features, unfortunately, not everything has been changed for the better. Solitaire has been a classic time waster, which has come bundled with Windows since the early days of the operating system. Typically it has been basic and free but now, it comes with adverts and a premium subscription.

Microsoft is monetizing Solitaire in a similar fashion to many mobile games, with adverts appearing on the app in Windows 10. You can make the ads go away but it will cost you, the subscription costs $1.50 a month or $10 per year. The subscription version of the game also offers extra in-game currency for beating daily challenges.

Solitaire

The in-game coins earned can't be used to pay off your subscription though, they are purely for unlocks. This isn't a totally unexpected move though, in the Windows 8.1 store Microsoft does sell the Solitaire Premium Edition with similar features and monetization methods, though this was a separate app entirely, rather than the primary option.

The ads that come in to play aren't all that small either, they take over the full Solitaire window and can run for as long as 30 seconds. Right not is isn't known exactly how long they are designed to pop up though.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This is the way apps have been heading for years now on mobile devices so I'm not surprised Microsoft is trying its luck here. I was never much of a Solitaire player myself but I may be in the minority. What do you guys think of Microsoft trying to monetize Solitaire with ads and subscription fees? 

Become a Patron!

Check Also

Nvidia’s latest driver update prepares for Windows 11

Windows 11 is the next major system update for the PC platform, bringing with it …

9 comments

  1. How can there be in game currency for solitare?!?

  2. 1. They actually did it several years ago, for Windows 8.

    2. They’re moving towards a free platform with paid apps or freemium apps. This is just a transition into a new business model. Personally I’d give up the chance to play Solitaire, or just put up with the apps on the occasion that I do, in exchange for a free operating system.

    We currently have 5 legitimate and validated Windows 10 running on our PCs. That would normally cost an absolute minimum of £200. To exchange that for a few ads on solitaire seems like a pretty good deal if you ask me.

  3. The world ends tomorrow.

  4. Demon Highwayman

    Well this is the first official black mark against windows 10 for me, and if they have indeed done away with media centre or are charging for it like in windows 8, then that is another black mark.

  5. Regarding KitGuru’s question at the end of the article: I think it’s a stupid idea that isn’t going to do anything other than stir up bad PR that exceeds any profits from the probably few people who will just blindly buy it.

    Assuming they don’t fiddle with things to prevent the option, you can use an older version of Solitaire or get one of many free 3rd-party versions via download sites. Or you can simply do without, it’s not exactly a “killer app” in the first place.

  6. Yes, W10 removes WMP, and its replacement requires purchasing.

    Or you can just go 3rd-party and tell MS to go [fornicate] itself. As long as you can run 3rd party programs, you can bypass any monetization shenanigans that they try.

  7. Demon Highwayman

    I’ll probably give it a try eventually but why should people paying for the license have to put up with ad’s in the product ? I’m thinking more of people buying a new system which includes win 10, they are after all paying for it.
    Anyway I totally agree, if I do end up using it i’ll probably install Kodi or something similar.

  8. GET A BEST TOP254-CAREER ::: @1md5.

    bc……

    http://www.Home-Job-ConceptsBest6/top5/yes...

    ⚛☤☤☤☤☤⚛⚛☤☤☤☤☤⚛⚛☤☤☤☤☤⚛⚛☤☤☤☤☤⚛⚛☤☤☤☤☤⚛⚛☤☤☤☤☤⚛

  9. but does it have pinball or minesweeper