Microsoft is set to shake up the mobile gaming industry with the launch of its very own Xbox app store in July. This move comes as both Apple and Google have loosened their control over their platforms, paving the way for other companies to enter the market.
Xbox President Sarah Bond announced the news at the Bloomberg Technology Summit, revealing that the store will initially be web-based before expanding into a full-fledged mobile app store. The focus will be on Microsoft’s own mobile games, such as popular titles like Candy Crush and Minecraft.
The store aims to provide a unified gaming experience, allowing players to access their library, identity, and rewards across different devices within the Xbox ecosystem. In addition to games, Microsoft envisions the store as a platform for offering deals on in-game items and discovering new games.
While the store will start as web-only, Microsoft hints at the possibility of launching a dedicated smartphone app store in the future to compete with the likes of Google and Apple. This move aligns with Microsoft’s anticipation of increased openness in mobile app stores, signaling a new era in mobile gaming.
The launch of the Xbox mobile store is a bold step for Microsoft, and it will be interesting to see how the company positions itself against existing mobile games on rival platforms. Stay tuned for the arrival of the Xbox app store in July, which will feature a range of Microsoft-owned titles to kick things off.