Microsoft’s Mobile Game Store Arrives in July

According to media reports, Xbox executive Sarah Bond stated at a recent technology summit that Microsoft’s mobile gaming store is slated to debut this July. Bond announced that the store will launch alongside Microsoft’s mobile games and will be open to other publishers. She also mentioned that initially, the store will be web-based rather than an app, a strategy designed to facilitate access across different devices and regions.

Currently, the mobile gaming platform is dominated by Apple and Google’s app stores, both of which take a 30% commission on game developers’ sales. The introduction of Microsoft’s platform will offer mobile game developers an additional choice. In 2023, Xbox head Phil Spencer underscored Microsoft’s commitment to opening a mobile gaming store. In an interview that year, he expressed the desire for gamers to play Xbox and third-party partner games on any screen. Although this goal has not yet been achieved, he articulated a vision for an ecosystem where all devices integrate seamlessly with the Xbox platform.

IGN commented that Microsoft’s mobile gaming venture will likely rely on Activision Blizzard, and popular games like “Candy Crush Saga” and “Call of Duty: Mobile” are expected to significantly advance Microsoft’s position in the mobile gaming sector. Apart from Sarah Bond hinting that “Minecraft” would be one of the early titles in Microsoft’s mobile gaming store, no further details about the platform have been disclosed.