Microsoft plans to scrap Edge and build a new Chromium-based browser

Hopefully Microsoft goes in a different direction than the big "e"

Goodbye Internet Explorer II... I mean Edge.

According to Windows Central, Microsoft appears to be pulling on the plug on Microsoft Edge, the young successor to Internet Explorer. In its place, Microsoft will offer a brand new browser built on Chromium, the same rendering engine as Google's Chrome browser.

Launched roughly three years ago, Edge arrived to put Internet Explorer out to pasture. Its fast speed and modern look helped it gain initial popularity, but its unique rendering engine (EdgeHTML) kept it from ever expanding. Compatibility issues became more and more prevalent as companies designed their websites around Chrome compatibility: this is hardly surprising given the over 60% use rate of Chrome versus the minuscule use rate of Edge.

With a new browser built on Chromium, Microsoft should see very little issues with compatibility as all sites designed for Chrome should have no issues running on the new browser. Additionally, Microsoft's mobile versions of Edge are built on the native engines which has helped them enjoy limited issues (and much higher praise than the desktop browser).

This is just another sign showing the pure dominance that Google Chrome has on the browser market. Much like Internet Explorer 6, sites are being designed with Chrome compatibility in mind with other browser support as an afterthought. Mozilla, with Firefox Quantum, was the first browser to make changes in hopes of getting market-share, and Microsoft, with scrapping Edge for something new, is also trying to get back in the game.

Details are still scarce about the new browser, currently code-named "Anaheim", but insiders should start seeing some early builds as it finds its way in to the Fast Ring.