The answer to why Microsoft Windows got rid of the legacy Solitaire games from its pre-installed package is complicated. There are many reasons that may explain why Microsoft removed Solitaire, along with other classic Windows games like Minesweeper and Hearts…
Microsoft Wanted to Monetize Its Solitaire Game Collection
The Microsoft solitaire games were so popular that Microsoft wanted to profit from them. Besides, it was costing Xbox Studios a lot of money to design, develop, and maintain all the classic Windows solitaire games.
Switching to Opt-In, Ad-Based Solitaire Apps
Microsoft wanted to create an ad-based app to generate revenue from their solitaire and card games. Indeed, Microsoft removed all the classic desktop versions of Hearts, Minesweeper, and of course, Solitaire from both Windows 8 and Windows 10. Instead, they offered a brand new all-in-one app called Microsoft Solitaire Collection and it is available for free to download from Microsoft Store.
The Birth of Microsoft Solitaire Collection
The Microsoft Solitaire Collection comprises Klondike Solitaire, Pyramid Solitaire, FreeCell Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, and TriPeaks Solitaire all bundled together. Unlike the classic desktop solitaire games, these ones run banner ads and you will have to watch 30 seconds of video advertisement before the start of each game.
The Microsoft Solitaire Collection is also integrated with Xbox account and game stats, allowing you to save your progress and enjoy daily challenges. If you don’t want to deal with the disruptive advertisements, you can opt for the premium versions by paying a monthly subscription of $1.49 (or an annual membership of $10 paid once in full).
Putting Microsoft App Store in the Limelight
Another potential reason why Microsoft got rid of classic solitaire from Windows 10 and Windows 8 was to use the game to promote its Microsoft App Store.
Microsoft saw that it was behind competition when it came to app stores and wanted to use the most popular games to promote its own.
So, perhaps Microsoft removed solitaire from Windows to compete against Chrome Store, Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Samsung Galaxy Apps, Ubuntu Apps, and iTunes Apps. Microsoft Store was lacking any popular app from third-party developers and it resorted to its own collection of card games as a form of creating traction and buzz among Windows users. After all, if you miss playing the classic desktop solitaire, you will go to Microsoft Store to download it.
Debloating Windows Operating System
Finally, Windows users and regulators (especially in the European Union) had complained about the amount of bloatware (the apps and files that come pre-installed in Windows software). The removal of solitaire from Windows was possibly a move to comply with the antitrust laws of the European Union and to reduce the size of bloatware in Windows 10.
Did Microsoft remove solitaire?
Yes, Microsoft removed the classic desktop solitaire game from Windows 8 and Windows 10. However, you can get a brand new solitaire app from the Microsoft Store. It is known as Microsoft Solitaire Collection and has all the popular versions of solitaire bundled together for your convenience, including Klondike, Pyramid, FreeCell, Spider, and TriPeaks Solitaire.
However, unlike the classic desktop solitaire that came with Windows XP and other previous versions of Microsoft operating system, the Microsoft Solitaire Collection is not entirely free to play.
While it is free to download from the Windows app store, it has banner ads that can be annoying and disrupt the playing experience.
The app is created and maintained by Xbox Game Studios, which is part of Microsoft Inc. You must also watch 30-second ads before the beginning of each round of the solitaire game. There are also in-purchases that include the ability to upgrade to the full, ad-free solitaire game for a renewable monthly subscription fee of $1.49.
What happened to my Solitaire app?
Your classic Solitaire app was removed by Microsoft from the Windows desktop and games folder. It was removed along with other popular classic Windows card games like Hearts and Minesweeper.
But they did not remove them entirely from their Windows ecosystem.
You can still download and play Microsoft Solitaire. It is available for free download from Microsoft Store, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store. It goes by the name Microsoft Solitaire Collection and contains banner and video ads in the free versions, with in-app purchases of $1.49 per month for the full, ad-free experience.
When did Windows remove Solitaire?
Solitaire was removed from Windows 8 in 2012 after more than three decades of being pre-installed in Windows computers.
Why did Microsoft remove games from Windows?
It is unclear why Microsoft removed games from Windows in mid-2012. There are many reasons that could explain why the tech giant decided to remove legacy games like Spider Solitaire.
First of all, Microsoft wanted to take advantage of the popularity of these legacy games to market its faltering App Store, which had suffered a long drought in the wake of Chrome, Google Play, and Apple App stores.
From subsequent events, it also seems like Microsoft wanted to incorporate ads into these legacy games. However, due to EU laws, they needed users to actually download and opt-in to these advertising-supported games. Besides, European regulators had been in Microsoft’s case for a long time over bloatware and antitrust issues.
Why is my solitaire app not working?
There are many potential reasons why your solitaire app is not working, especially if you have recently upgraded your computer’s operating system. The issue could be linked to network errors, computing problems, or anything in between.
Here are some solutions that might help make your solitaire app work again…
- Reinstall the solitaire app – If you’re on an Android or iOS device, simply uninstall the app. You can then go to Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download and reinstall it. Most users say the issue resolves when they reinstall microsoft solitaire collection.
- Reset the solitaire app – You can find the reset procedure in the settings or advanced options.
- Reset the cache
- Update your device
- Restart your phone or tablet for mobile solitaire apps. If you play Microsoft Solitaire Collection, be sure to restart your Windows computer. Windows store apps troubleshooter can also help.
