Microsoft Mobile money is coming as it confirms plans to open its own mobile games store later this year.
You might think that the main reason Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard was because of games like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft, especially the first one. Well, you might be somewhat right, but it’s clear that Microsoft has another side: the mobile market. First, Call of Duty itself has been successful on mobile devices, but Microsoft now also owns King, the developer of Candy Crush, a mobile game that’s still making serious money over the years. Now, while speaking at the recent Bloomberg Technology Summit (paywall, thanks GameSpot), Xbox president Sarah Bond announced that the company plans to launch a mobile game store this July.
iGamesNews
The store will apparently launch on the web first, rather than on the app, so that it can be accessed on a variety of devices, although apps are likely to follow suit. This isn’t the first time plans for a mobile games store have been mentioned, with Microsoft last year mentioning its intention to do so following the introduction of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which made it easier for companies to open their own digital stores. Bond noted that initially the store will feature games from Microsoft-owned studios, such as Candy Crush Saga.
This move from Microsoft isn’t particularly surprising, although the announcement did come earlier this week, which was a bit surprising. Unfortunately, Microsoft decided to shut down Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin, among others, despite the former’s critically acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush, while the latter was forced to make Redfall an online game, ultimately leading to the disaster we ended up with. . It’s a frustrating move, and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said Microsoft hopes to launch more games like Hi-Fi Rush. But hey, enjoy Candy Crush for your money, I’m sure it’s worth it.
