Xbox is in talks with partners to open a mobile store
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has revealed that the company is currently discussing the possibility of opening its own mobile store with its partners to compete with Google and Apple’s storefronts.
The details:
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Spencer discussed Xbox's mobile gaming plans following its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, confirming that the company is working with partners to launch a new mobile storefront. “It’s an important part of our strategy and something we are actively working on today not only alone but talking to other partners who’d also like to see more choice for how they can monetize on the phone,’’ Spencer explained.
When asked about the service's release date, the executive declined to provide one but did say that he doesn't think it's "multiple years away, I think this is sooner than that." It was previously suggested that the store could open as early as next year, as the plan had been in place since before the merger was completed.
Many people focused on Microsoft acquiring the rights to Call of Duty during the acquisition process, but Spencer claims that the deal was driven by Activision's mobile ambitions, as Xbox would become "untenable" if it did not grow its mobile playerbase. With King's massive market reach with its Candy Crush series, Warzone Mobile's upcoming cross-progression launch with Modern Warfare 3, and Game Pass' cloud streaming service, Microsoft is likely to become a mobile titan over the next decade.
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