Microsoft’s online mobile game store launching in July

Microsoft is set to launch a web-based store where users can download its mobile games and make in-app purchases at a discount, Xbox President Sarah Bond revealed at the Bloomberg Technology Summit. The store will be accessible across all devices and countries, allowing users to access their favorite games without being tied to a single ecosystem.

Initially, the store will only feature Microsoft’s own games, including popular titles from Activision Blizzard, such as Candy Crush Saga and Call of Duty’s mobile games. Minecraft may also be among the first games available for download. This move comes after Microsoft’s $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year.

While Microsoft plans to open the store to third-party publishers in the future, it has not provided a timeline for this expansion. The company’s decision to launch a gaming store for Android and iOS devices comes as a response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which requires Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores and alternative billing systems on their platforms.

The move towards a more open app store ecosystem is a significant shift for Apple, known for its “walled garden” approach. While operators of third-party app stores will still have to pay fees to Apple and Google, they will have more flexibility in offering their services to users. The European Commission is currently investigating whether the tech giants’ compliance plans are sufficient to meet the requirements of the DMA regulations.