Dan Gaier   •   about 5 years ago

Beware: Microsoft rejecting apps with game-like functionality

After 3 weeks of going back and forth with Microsoft as part of the Teams app certification process, I'm very upset to find out today that my app has been officially *rejected*.
Here is the official rejection response from Microsoft: "We have reviewed this scenarios with design board. We are not yet accepting gaming apps in Microsoft Teams Store yet"

I carefully reviewed all Teams app policies before deciding to proceed with building my “Dice App” and entering this “Teams App Development Challenge”

There is *nothing* in the policy that indicates apps with game-like features are prohibited. In fact, it seems to indicate Games are allowed as it’s even included in their examples!
Teams marketplace policies: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/marketplace/certification-policies#1140-teams

So after *100's of hours* building this app, setting up Azure, paying for hosting, setting up info on my website, filling everything out for my submission here, etc, I have found out it’s all been pretty much a waste of time and money.

I’ve very disappointed that my app has been rejected due to a policy invented out of thin air. It’s a shame this wasn’t clear in the “Teams App Development Challenge” guidelines or Microsoft’s policies. Please express my disappointment to the Microsoft contacts running this development challenge.

I don’t want anyone else here to make the same mistake, but it’s probably too late.

Dice App Info: https://gaiersoftware.com/Teams

Dan