Microsoft, a company known for building everything in-house, was now embracing an open-source project led by a competitor.
In the late 2010s, Microsoft found itself at a crossroads. Its browser, Edge, built on the proprietary EdgeHTML engine, was struggling. Despite being bundled with Windows 10, Edge couldn’t shake off the legacy of Internet Explorer. Developers ignored it, users avoided it, and websites often broke on it.
Inside Microsoft, frustration simmered. Engineers spent more time patching compatibility issues than building new features. One developer quipped, “We’re fixing the web instead of building a browser.” The team knew something had to change.
Then came a pivotal moment — a bug on YouTube. Microsoft engineers discovered that a mysterious div element was slowing down Edge. Though they fixed it, the incident underscored a deeper truth: Google’s Chromium engine was setting the pace for the modern web, and EdgeHTML was falling behind.
In 2018, after months of internal debate, Microsoft made a bold decision: abandon its own engine and adopt Chromium. It was a move that shocked the tech world. Microsoft, a company known for building everything in-house, was now embracing an open-source project led by a competitor.
The transition wasn’t just technical — it was cultural. Engineers had to learn new workflows, contribute to Chromium, and rethink what made Edge unique. The team focused on privacy, enterprise features, and performance optimizations. They added tools like Collections, vertical tabs, and tracking prevention — features Chrome didn’t offer.
When the new Chromium-based Edge launched in 2020, the reception was surprisingly warm. Users praised its speed, compatibility, and sleek design. Developers appreciated the consistency. Even skeptics admitted: “It’s like Chrome, but with less Google.”
Today, Edge is no longer a punchline. It’s a serious contender — especially in enterprise and education. And while Chrome still dominates, Microsoft’s bold bet on Chromium has paid off in credibility, innovation, and user trust.