Microsoft is set to unveil its very own mobile game store in July, as revealed during the Bloomberg Technology Summit on Thursday.
Xbox president Sarah Bond disclosed that Microsoft’s initial lineup, including popular titles like Candy Crush and Minecraft, will be available on the mobile store upon its launch. Microsoft aims to eventually expand the store to include games from other developers as well.
Bond stated, “We’re kicking off on the web because it allows us to deliver a universally accessible experience, regardless of devices or geographical restrictions, bypassing the closed ecosystems present in app stores. Our plan is to grow from there.”
By opting to launch the store on the web rather than as an app, Microsoft is offering an alternative to Apple and Google, who currently impose a 30% sales fee.
This announcement follows Microsoft’s prior discussions about introducing an Xbox mobile gaming store. Last December, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer mentioned ongoing talks with partners and assured that the Xbox mobile store’s arrival was imminent.
Microsoft’s first hints about a mobile store surfaced in 2022, coinciding with the announcement of the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft’s filings expressed a keen interest in expanding its mobile gaming presence through this deal. In October 2022, Microsoft’s filings with the CMA outlined plans for a new “Xbox Mobile Platform” incorporating mobile games from Activision and King.
While the EU’s Digital Markets Act mandates Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores, Microsoft is preparing to offer an alternative to these tech giants in the US and other regions outside the EU.
