In context: Microsoft has been trying for years to build a bridge between Windows PCs and the Android ecosystem, but those efforts were ultimately abandoned with the announced demise of the Windows Subsystem for Android. Now, a new partnership is apparently reviving some of these efforts, at least for Chinese PC users.
Microsoft and Tencent have announced a new partnership to bring a selection of Android apps from the Tencent App Store to Microsoft's own app store for Windows. At launch, PC users will seemingly have access to around 1,500 apps and games, although the venture is exclusively focused on the Chinese market for now. Tencent's catalog includes some popular gaming apps, such as PUBG and Honor of Kings.
Tencent apps will be available through Microsoft's store, the Start Menu, Windows Search, or Bing, Microsoft confirmed.
After installation, apps and games will have their own shortcuts like any other desktop application, but they will still be Android apps through and through. This raises the question: what exactly is Microsoft interested in achieving with Android support on Windows?
The company introduced native support for Google's mobile ecosystem through the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) technology in Windows 11. Users could not access the entire Google Play app offering, but only a smaller selection available through the Amazon Appstore. Microsoft has now decided to deprecate WSA, turning off support starting on March 5, 2025.
The newly announced Tencent collaboration seemingly confirms that, despite WSA's early demise, Microsoft hasn't completely given up on providing some form of native Android compatibility with Windows 11. The partnership was also welcomed by Intel, which will provide the virtualization technology required to integrate Arm-based Android apps on x86 CPUs (called Celadon).
Tencent apps will apparently be able to leverage the hardware capabilities of integrated GPUs to deliver higher frame rates, an improved visual experience, and AI acceleration. Intel worked with Tencent to provide an upgraded "Android engine" capable of optimizing the app experience on PC systems.
According to Tencent, this partnership will help the PC users access the extensive mobile ecosystem available in China. Tencent is one of the biggest multimedia companies in the world and the largest investor in the video game industry through its Tencent Games subdivision.
It should be noted that Tencent for years has offered GameLoop, an Android emulator that lets you play Android games on Windows PCs. We can't confirm, but it's possible this announcement essentially leverages this existing emulation layer, where Microsoft is now integrating it into Windows menus for broader user access.