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Microsoft apparently just upped its Windows licence fee for OEM handheld and PC makers, and I'm taking it as an excuse to switch to Linux
Windows 11, an operating system I'm not convinced we even want powering out handhelds and PCs, has apparently hiked OEM licence prices. That means it has potentially cost more for companies to pre-install it on your gaming device of choice, and I can't help but think that's ridiculously bold of Microsoft considering Linux is gaining prominence.
The report, courtesy of Chinese publication UDN, claims Windows OEM licences have increased by "7% to 10%" since July (via Videocardz). That's according to a "PC brand executive" who says while Microsoft typically increases its fees for the operating system every year by single digits, it has now allegedly slapped OEMs with a much higher bill compared to previous years.
Update:
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Microsoft increases Windows 11 fees for OEMs
The price increase is somewhere between 7% and 10%, which is unusually high. One of the PC vendors noted that it's expected for Microsoft to increase prices pretty much every year, but it's usually by a low singe-digit percentages.
Big OEMs that sell PCs in large volumes like Dell, Asus, HP, etc. will see their fees increased by around 7%, but smaller manufacturers will probably have to deal with double-digit percentage increases.
Some believe that Microsoft is trying to step up its game with Windows 11 and improve the user experience, which objectively hasn't been all that great lately. And to offset those efforts, it's increasing licensing costs.