Xbox Mobile Gaming Store by Microsoft set to launch in July

Microsoft has finally announced the launch date for its highly anticipated Xbox mobile gaming store, set for July. The news was revealed by Xbox president Sarah Bond during the Bloomberg Technology Summit.

The upcoming Xbox mobile store will initially focus on Microsoft’s first-party portfolio, featuring popular titles like Candy Crush and Minecraft. Bond highlighted that the store will first roll out on the web, allowing for universal access across all devices and regions, regardless of closed ecosystem store restrictions.

While gaming will be a key component of the store, Microsoft aims to offer more than just games. Bond emphasized the vision of a unified gaming platform that transcends devices, enabling users to seamlessly access their identities, libraries, and rewards across different ecosystems.

This strategic move by Microsoft to develop a web-only mobile store is seen as a direct challenge to existing mobile game platforms controlled by tech giants like Apple and Google. Bond hinted at the potential expansion of the store beyond the web interface, suggesting that Microsoft may eventually compete with Google and Apple’s mobile app stores.

This initiative follows previous hints about a ‘next-generation store’ dating back to early 2022, shortly after Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard. Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer had previously expressed the company’s ambition to provide Xbox content seamlessly across all screens, including mobile devices.

As of now, Microsoft has not disclosed further details on the operationalization of the store or potential fees. The full details are expected to be revealed in July, marking a significant milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to revolutionize the mobile gaming industry.