Microsoft Gears Up to Launch Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

For years, gamers have been waiting for a dedicated Xbox mobile game store, and the wait is finally over. Microsoft has officially announced the launch of its mobile game store, set for July 2024. This move positions Microsoft as a potential challenger to the dominance of Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store in the mobile gaming market.

Leading the charge is Sarah Bond, Xbox president, who revealed the launch date at the Bloomberg Technology Summit. She emphasized Microsoft’s strategy to bypass the restrictions imposed by Apple and Google’s app stores. The key? Launching the store as a web-based platform.

Microsoft Gears Up to Launch Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

“We’re going to start by bringing our own first-party portfolio to [the Xbox mobile store],” Bond explained. This means popular titles like Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft will be readily available for mobile gamers. “We’re starting on the web,” she continued, “because that allows us to create an experience accessible across all devices, all countries, and independent of app store policies.” This web-based approach ensures the store is universally accessible, regardless of location or device limitations.

The Xbox mobile store isn’t just about games. Bond highlighted the company’s vision for a comprehensive Xbox experience that transcends platforms. “There isn’t a gaming platform and store experience that truly goes across devices,” she noted. Ideally, the Xbox mobile store will allow users to seamlessly access their gaming library, identity, rewards, and progress across different devices. This focus on user experience and a unified ecosystem sets the Xbox mobile store apart from the competition.

While the initial launch focuses on the web, Microsoft isn’t ruling out a native app experience in the future. The company’s decision to launch a web-based store suggests a proactive approach, not waiting for potential legislative changes that might force Apple and Google to open up their app stores.

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A web-only mobile store presents its own challenges. Microsoft will need to effectively position this platform as a viable alternative to existing mobile game stores that already offer a vast library of titles. Bond hinted at future plans that “extend beyond the web,” suggesting a potential native app experience might be in the works. This could position the Xbox mobile store as a more direct competitor to Google Play and the App Store.

Microsoft’s venture into the mobile game store market marks a significant development. The focus on accessibility and a unified gaming experience across devices positions the Xbox mobile store as a potential game-changer. Whether it can disrupt the dominance of established app stores remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Microsoft’s move is sure to shake things up in the mobile gaming landscape.