Minecraft creator Markus Notch” Persson had made a public declaration of opposition to Microsoft’s Windows 8 platform.
Microsoft has been certifying software since the days of Windows XP. Certification is supposed to offer the user a certain quality benchmark and requires software to meet a number of technical requirements.
However, not only has Notch refused an invitation to have his indie gaming sensation Minecraft certified, but he’s told the whole world exactly why.
Got an email from microsoft, wanting to help "certify" minecraft for win 8. I told them to stop trying to ruin the pc as an open platform.
— notch (@notch) September 27, 2012
I'd rather have minecraft not run on win 8 at all than to play along. Maybe we can convince a few people not to switch to win 8 that way..
— notch (@notch) September 27, 2012
Notch is far from the only development critic to have publicly lashed out at Windows 8.
In July Valve boss Gabe Newell stated: I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space. I think we’ll lose some of the top-tier PC/OEMs, who will exit the market. I think margins will be destroyed for a bunch of people. If that’s true, then it will be good to have alternatives to hedge against that eventuality.”
The main objection is that the OS will move to close the traditionally open development environment enjoyed by PC users since the dawn of the sector.