Microsoft's Xbox mobile gaming store to be launched in July
Microsoft has announced plans to launch the Xbox mobile gaming store in July, as revealed by Xbox president Sarah Bond at the Bloomberg Technology Summit. The store will initially feature Microsoft's own first-party games, including popular titles like Call of Duty: Mobile, Candy Crush, and Minecraft. The tech giant aims to make the store accessible via the web, ensuring its availability across all devices and countries, regardless of closed ecosystem stores' policies.
Cross-device platform for the store
While the Xbox mobile store will initially showcase Microsoft's first-party games, the company also plans to expand its selection in the future with offerings from partners. Microsoft's mobile gaming store would be a cross-device platform where users' game library, identity, and rewards are not confined to a single ecosystem. This approach aims to provide gamers with an unrestricted gaming experience.
Expanding reach beyond the web
Despite potential regulatory changes like Europe's Digital Markets Act, Microsoft is not waiting for tech giants like Apple and Google to open up their mobile app stores. Microsoft is currently considering a web-only store for games, because it's challenging to remove. However, Bond also suggests that the company will "extend" beyond the web, implying the possibility of launching a genuine competitor to Google and Apple's mobile app stores in the near future.
Take a look at what Bond has disclosed
Microsoft hinted at its mobile gaming store in early 2022
Microsoft initially indicated the concept of a "next-generation store" in early 2022, shortly after annoucing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, articulated this vision in an interview with the Financial Times. "We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen where somebody would want to play."
