MS Paint will live on… in the Windows Store

Yesterday, I wrote how Microsoft’s simple graphics program Paint was getting killed off after 32 years’ service, but it seems it’s not dead yet.

Microsoft is going to be retiring it from future versions of Windows 10, but you’ll still be able to get Paint from the Windows Store.

In a blog post titled, 'MS Paint is here to stay', Microsoft says:

Today, we’ve seen an incredible outpouring of support and nostalgia around MS Paint. If there’s anything we learned, it’s that after 32 years, MS Paint has a lot of fans. It’s been amazing to see so much love for our trusty old app. Amidst today’s commentary around MS Paint we wanted to take this opportunity to set the record straight, clear up some confusion and share some good news:

MS Paint is here to stay, it will just have a new home soon, in the Windows Store where it will be available for free.

So Paint is not dead, it’s just not deemed worthy enough to be part of Windows going forward, and with Paint 3D included in the new OS that kind of makes sense. No doubt other, older Windows applications will find themselves dropped in a similar way in years to come. Not dead, just sitting forgotten about, and gathering dust, in the great Windows Store retirement home.