Microsoft's Puzzling Move: Partners with Tencent's MyApp to Provide Android Apps to PC Users

Microsoft has announced the cessation of development for the Windows SubSystem for Android on Windows 11, indicating that no further updates will be provided for the Android subsystem. Originally, the Android subsystem project was a collaboration with Amazon, allowing users to install Android apps and games through the Amazon Store and run them on Windows 11 via the Android subsystem. This feature was significant for many users, and with its development halted, users looking to run Android apps on PC would have to resort to various emulator products.

Now, the officially recommended emulator product by Microsoft has arrived. At a recent cross-ecosystem conference held by Tencent's MyApp, one of the key announcements was the partnership between Tencent and Microsoft, which will bring Tencent MyApp's mobile content to the Microsoft Store app store.

In the future, users will be able to search for apps or games through the Microsoft Store, the Start menu in Windows 11, the search box / search panel, and Bing search. Then, they can install them via the Microsoft Store.

Installed apps and games will create shortcuts on the desktop, allowing users to launch them with a click. This functionality is powered by the emulator provided by the PC version of Tencent MyApp.

Tencent MyApp for PC, launched initially in 2023, is a virtualization product developed by Tencent based on Intel IBT and Celadon technology. It enables running Arm apps on x86 architecture processors and can also access hardware resources like the camera, microphone, and location information.

During the conference, Tencent also announced a partnership with Intel to upgrade cross-platform experiences. The engine of Tencent MyApp for PC has been upgraded to Android 13, supporting split-screen and multi-screen operation and leveraging AI features of Intel's mobile platform for computational acceleration.

Most importantly, the update enhances display performance, meaning that users can expect higher frame rates, better clarity, and a smoother experience when using Tencent MyApp for PC on Windows.