Windows 10 Solitaire Requires Annual Subscription

Windows 10 Solitaire Requires Annual Subscription

Solitaire has been a staple of every Windows version since Windows 3.0 was released in 1990. For the first time in all these years, the famous office time waster won't be free.

The Windows 10 edition of Solitaire is considerably puffier than its predecessors. The game packs in five variations of Solitaire, multiple card designs, and even adds a competitive edge with daily challenges and tournaments. But to access any of that you have to upgrade to "Solitaire Premium" or watch a 30 seconds full screen video ad before every match.

Adding insult to injury, the Solitaire Premium upgrade is not a onetime payment. To keep your Solitaire ad-free, you have to $1.49 per month or $9.99 each year. That, or download a free open source Solitaire suite such as PySolitaire.

For comparison, a commercial Solitaire game suite such as SolSuite is sold for $10 with no extra charges.