Microsoft’s Xbox Mobile Store Might Potentially Launch Next Year

Microsoft is potentially aiming to launch its own Xbox Mobile Store next year. At least that’s what Verge Journalist and renowned Microsoft insider Tom Warren believes. According to him, depending on a number of factors including EU regulators the store launch could become a reality as early as next year.

Tom was talking on the latest episode of The Iron Lords Podcast where he discussed the aftermath of Microsoft’s successful acquisition of Activision Blizzard in detail. Tom said that Microsoft’s push into the mobile gaming market has been overlooked and “overshadowed” by the troubles with CMA. But, in his words, “all that mobile stuff is huge” and there’s more money generated in mobile gaming than in consoles.

For relevancy, he talks about the Xbox Mobile Store from 1:39:00 onwards.

In Tom Warren’s view that’s going to be a key factor and Microsoft would definitely look to tap into it with the Xbox Mobile Store. The American conglomerate’s push would definitely be helped by having its own mobile store. According to him, the possibility is tied in with a number of factors including “some EU regulations.” 

It all ties in with Microsoft making an Xbox mobile store that could potentially launch next year, depending on some of the EU regulations that could open up the mobile stores. If all that stuff comes together, then having a good amount of mobile games that you’re publishing is going to be super interesting.”

Tom also said that we might be on the “cusp” of a change in the mobile gaming market where we see lots of native games being released for the platform. He also cited the example of Apple which recently announced the release date for Resident Evil Village for its mobile phone and tablet including iPhone 15 Pro and iPad Pro.

The news of Microsoft launching a Mobile Games Store first came to light in March of this year when Phil Spencer announced the company’s plans to launch the store by next year. He had tied the possibility with the finalization of the $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision. Now after the completion of the deal, it would be no surprise if the company sets the whole plan in motion.

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Moreover, earlier this month Phil even confessed that the “real strategic” goal behind the Activision deal was to make Xbox relevant on mobile. Activision owns the rights to popular mobile games like Candy Crush, Call of Duty Mobile, and Diablo Immortal. The popularity of these titles will certainly help Microsoft in its efforts to mainstream the prospective Xbox Mobile Store.

The store would also help Xbox and its titles to have more reach and in turn, increase its player base. It would allow other Xbox-affiliated third-party developers. In Phil’s own words, 

We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen where somebody would want to play.”