Windows 12 might come with a subscription service

When you buy a computer, you’re buying the operating system along with the hardware. For most people, their financial obligation ends the moment they purchase their computer. However, Microsoft might have some changes in the near future. According to PCMag, Windows 12 might have a subscription service.

Since we’re talking about a leak, you’ll want to take this information with a grain of salt. The information deals with a future version of Windows. Between now and its launch, Microsoft could change or cancel this.

Windows 12 could have a subscription service

Windows 11 was released just two years ago, and it’s been getting new features ever since. Since computer upgrades are far different from phone upgrades, we didn’t really expect Microsoft to release the next version for at least six more years. So, it seems odd to cover leaks about Windows 12. Well, based on some leaks from last year, Microsoft might actually release Windows 12 sometime in 2024.

When Windows 12 does hit the market, there’s a chance that it will be monetized much differently from current and past versions. According to the source, German website DeskModder discovered an INI configuration file in the Windows Canary channel. The file in question includes references to “Subscription Edition,” “Subscription Type,” and a “subscription status.

Since this is still very early information, don’t grab your pitchforks just yet. We don’t know what this means 100%. For all we know, it could be a different subscription service.

In any case, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise if the company decides to do this. Right now in the tech industry, most services have moved on to subscription-based plans. Microsoft Office has its Office 356 subscription service. Also, think about Snapchat+, X Premium, Meta Verified, WhatsApp Premium, Telegram Premium, etc. The world is moving toward a subscription-based future, and that could have an effect on Windows in the future.

However, we don’t believe that (if the company does follow through with this) Microsoft will charge people a subscription just to use the software. Right now, there’s the free version of Windows 11; one is free and one is paid. Well, there’s a chance that the company would just have one version. You’ll start with a free version and, if you want to have the features that would have been in a premium version, you’ll just pay the subscription.

At this point, there’s no way of telling. We will have to wait for what Microsoft has in store for us.