Microsoft deletes illegal copies of retro games found on Edge extensions store

While Microsoft's Edge browser may have managed to reach Chrome's level of user-friendliness and features, it appears that it still has much to do in terms of moderation of content and piracy.

Downloading games illegally over the net can not only be risky because the original developer or publisher’s code could be modified with malicious intent. (The Verge/Microsoft Edge Store)

When Microsoft switched out the engine on Edge, its in-house browser, to Google's Chromium base, it also added compatibility for Google Chrome's extensions - while maintaining its own extensions store. However, it looks like the company still has work to do in terms of moderation, after it was found hosting illegitimate copies of several game titles like Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Pac-Man and more, according to reports.

According to a report by The Verge, which found the games across 35 listings by ten different publishers - many of which were duplicates. Along with the titles mentioned above, the report also states that other titles like Mario Kart, 2014, Flappy Bird, Tetris, Cut the Rope, and Minecraft were also available. The report says some reviews for the apps date all the way back to October, which means they remained undetected for quite a while.

While Microsoft was quick to remove the extensions, the report also pointed out that @MSEdgeDev, one of Microsoft's accounts themselves ended up promoting some of the browser extensions. The tweet, which seems to have been deleted, read “Calling all Pac-Man, Tetris, and Mario Kart lovers. Did you know Microsoft Edge has these plus more vintage games on the extensions site?” followed by a link, according to a screenshot.

Downloading games illegally over the net can not only be risky because the original developer or publisher's code could be modified with malicious intent - in fact, some of these games also had similar descriptions which could mean they were all published by the same person or group, the report states. Either way, it looks like Microsoft has a long way to go when it comes to moderating their browser.