Despite numerous issues and criticism since its launch, the Windows Store for applications on Windows 8 and 8.1 has seen a 38.56% increase in downloads since June. 

According to information Microsoft provides to developers, the Windows Store marketplace for applications on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 racked up roughly 1.7 million daily downloads, both free and paid, in October, a 38.56% increase since June. Microsoft’s dataset, located on the company’s developer portal, indicates that around 51.2 million applications, again free and paid, were downloaded during the month-long period. While that figure represents growth for Microsoft, the company lags steeply behind its classic rival Apple.