During the Bloomberg Technology Summit, industry giant Microsoft revealed plans for the debut of the Xbox Mobile Games App Store in July. Xbox President Sarah Bond disclosed that the store would initially feature Microsoft's own games, such as Candy Crush, Call of Duty: Mobile, Minecraft, alongside titles from renowned studios like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda.

While Microsoft's intention to launch its mobile game store had been previously known, the formal announcement solidifies its entry into the mobile gaming market. This move comes following Microsoft's submission to UK Competition and Markets Authority regulators, where the company emphasized the importance of bolstering its presence in mobile gaming, particularly through the recent Activision Blizzard acquisition.

The decision to launch a mobile game store aligns with ongoing discussions surrounding the fee charges imposed by Apple and Google. The topic gained momentum following Apple's termination of Epic's developer account, prompting criticism from Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney regarding the 30% revenue sharing cut enforced by both platforms. Sweeney argued that a lower percentage, such as 8%, would be more conducive to profitability for digital storefronts.

Microsoft's entry into the mobile gaming market signals a significant shift in the industry's landscape, offering developers and players an alternative platform to Apple and Google. As the launch of the Xbox Mobile Games App Store approaches, anticipation mounts for the impact it will have on the mobile gaming ecosystem.

Source: adapted from an article by Baran Köse, Author for Mobidictum.