Windows 11 might be getting more adverts soon, although they could appear in a place you might not often visit – the Microsoft Store. Microsoft is testing new search suggestions within the store, potentially blurring the line between helpful recommendations and paid advertisements. The idea is still in testing with Windows Insiders in the Beta channel. These suggestions would pop up when you search for apps or games in the Microsoft Store.
While Microsoft calls them suggestions, Windows Central, who spotted this, rightly points out that the question is where exactly those suggestions tread the line between genuinely helpful recommendations, or paid-for nudges to use products (basically, adverts). Microsoft doesn’t explain anything on how these are pitched, or will be implemented, so we don’t know as yet how this will all pan out. About all we can do is watch for initial feedback from testers in the beta channel.
While we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that these recommendations might be useful – at least some of the time – on an overall level, this is just another initiative from Microsoft stitched into a growing patchwork quilt of suggestions, semi-adverts, or outright prodding to use the company’s own services. Except this time, you might not ever be bothered by the prompts in question – if they ever make the cut from testing anyway, that is. (We suspect in this case they most probably will).
