Microsoft: Apps with the word “Metro” will be removed from the Windows Store

Recently, rumors suggested that Microsoft was re-branding the term “Metro” which has been used to describe the modern, immersive, fast and fluid nature of the new Windows 8 app design. Now, Microsoft is removing apps with the word “Metro” in its name from the Windows Store.

“Note Make sure your app name doesn’t include the word metro. Apps with a name that includes the word metro will fail certification and won’t be listed in the Windows Store,” Microsoft mentions in a Windows Store certification document. This obviously creates a big impact to apps that have already been added to the Windows Store and have already been popular amongsts the masses. For example, MetroTwit is a popular Twitter app that now faces the likelihood of being removed from the Windows Store due to its name containing the word “Metro.” We are still awaiting Microsoft’s reasoning as to why the company is ditching the word “Metro.” According to a recent report, Microsoft’s employees have already begun using “Modern UI Style” to describe the Windows 8 Start Screen and the term “Modern UI” to describe Windows 8 apps. Microsoft has yet to make an official statement about the re-branding, but numerous sources are clearly indicating that Microsoft is planning on using the term “Modern UI Style.”

Update: Looks like the part about removing “metro” has mysteriously disappeared from that document. No idea why, stay tuned. Thanks to TheVerge for spotting this.