Confirmed: Microsoft moving to Chromium-compatible web platform for Microsoft Edge on the desktop

As we reported early this week, Microsoft today confirmed that it is going to adopt the Chromium for Microsoft Edge on the desktop. Microsoft believes that this move will create better web compatibility for customers and less fragmentation for web developers. As part of this move, Microsoft will also start contributing to the Chromium project. Below is the plan for Microsoft regarding this change:

1. Microsoft will move to a Chromium-compatible web platform for Microsoft Edge on the desktop. Microsoft wants to align the Microsoft Edge web platform simultaneously (a) with web standards and (b) with other Chromium-based browsers. This will deliver improved compatibility for everyone and create a simpler test-matrix for web developers.
2. Microsoft Edge will now be delivered and updated for all supported versions of Windows and on a more frequent cadence. Yes, it may come to Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 as well. Microsoft may also bring Edge to other platforms like macOS.
3. Microsoft will contribute web platform enhancements to make Chromium-based browsers better on Windows devices.

If you’re an Edge user, you need not care about this change as Edge will continue to work as you expect. Microsoft will continue to maintain EdgeHTML and Chakra for time being as web views in UWP will be depending on them. But in long term, Microsoft will use Chromium engine to power web views as well.

Microsoft will have a preview build of Edge powered by Chromium in early 2019. If you are a web developer, you can sign-up here to become a Microsoft Edge Insider.

Source: Microsoft