14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has finally confirmed a report that has been making the headlines for several days already: Microsoft Edge will switch to the Chromium engine in the next Windows 10 feature updates.
In an announcement today, Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, Windows, says moving to Chromium would bring several benefits not only to Microsoft, but to the rest of the industry as well, as the company would make significant contributions to the project.
“Our philosophy of greater participation in Chromium open source will embrace contribution of beneficial new tech. We recognize that making the web better on Windows is good for our customers, partners and our business – and we intend to actively contribute to that end,” Belfiore says.
The transition to a new engine won’t be a disruptive switch for existing Microsoft users. Even though Belfiore doesn’t mention it specifically, he suggests that the user interface and the name of Microsoft Edge would be retained.
“If you’re a Microsoft Edge customer, there is nothing you need to do as the Microsoft Edge you use today isn’t changing,” he explains.
Microsoft Edge on macOS
By switching to Chromium, Microsoft can also release Microsoft Edge on other platforms, including macOS. Technically, Microsoft Edge can become available on all platforms where Google Chrome is already up for grabs, and this includes both mobile and desktop operating systems.
The first preview build of the new Microsoft Edge will be released in early 2019, Belfiore says, though a specific launch date for the final app hasn’t been provided. However, it will take time to complete work on this project, the Microsoft exec emphasizes.
“Over the next year or so, we’ll be making a technology change that happens “under the hood” for Microsoft Edge, gradually over time, and developed in the open,” he says. “We expect to have a preview build ready in early 2019 for you to try for yourself.”
The next major Windows 10 update is due in the spring of 2019, and it could come with at least a preview version of the browser for users to try it out.