Xbox teams up with partners to 'actively' develop a mobile app store Get ready to game on-the-go

Xbox is exploring the launch of its own mobile app store, potentially challenging the dominance of the App Store and Google Play. In conversations with partners, Xbox is seeking to provide more options for earning on smartphones. Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, indicated at the CCXP-convention that a focus on mobile is a strategic priority and hinted an Xbox mobile storefront could arrive sooner than many might expect.

The system's emphasis on choice is evident as Spencer addresses the current lack of options on mobile platforms, targeting the goal to keep Xbox relevant across multiple screens for the coming decades. This aligns with statements from Xbox's CFO Tim Stuart, reaffirming Microsoft's intent to make its games available on as many platforms as possible, including rival consoles.

This move is hardly surprising following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which also brought in mobile games giant King, the creator of Candy Crush, along with mobile Call of Duty titles into Microsoft's gaming portfolio. This venture into the mobile market highlights Microsoft's push for a significant presence beyond consoles and PCs.

As the European Digital Markets Act demands that established platforms like iPhones allow third-party app stores, Xbox's potential new app marketplace aligns with this new legal landscape, promising to stir up competition and offer consumers more choices in mobile gaming and applications.