Office-worker productivity is likely to take a hit once Windows 10 lands, after Microsoft decided to include Candy Crush Saga alongside the preinstalled classics Minesweeper, Solitaire and Hearts.
The freemium match-three game, which propelled British developer King Digital to record heights with users addicted enough to pay to keep playing, will be bundled with Windows 10.
King’s other games, including Pet Rescue Saga and Papa Pear Saga, will also be ported to Windows 10, allowing cross-play with users on iPhone and Android devices.
The classic Microsoft Minesweeper was removed from Windows 8, but makes a return in Windows 10. Whether Candy Crush can cut it with such classics of time-wasting and procrastination remains to be seen.
For King it is welcome news. Despite announcing $569.5m in first quarter revenue, above expectations of $553.8m, shares in King Digital slid 12% in after-hours trading on forecasts of a decline in gross bookings – money spent by players ignoring costs such as app store fees – for the second quarter.
Being bundled with Windows 10 can only help King’s shares – but at what cost to world productivity?
• Candy Crush Saga players spent £865m on the game in 2014 alone
