Microsoft is ready to Take On the Mobile Gaming Giants: Plans to Launch App Store in 2024

Microsoft plans to launch its own app store for mobile games next year in an effort to broaden its gaming reach.

Phil Spencer, Xbox's CEO, made the announcement in an interview with the Financial Times. The tech titan intends to compete with Apple's App Store and Google Play Store by offering Xbox content from both itself and third parties on any screen a user wishes to play on.

Entering the market

Microsoft is currently unable to offer its gaming content on mobile devices due to Apple and Google's control over their respective app stores. However, Microsoft sees an opportunity to enter the market as a new regulation is expected to allow other companies to open their own app stores on mobile platforms by March 2024.

King

The move could be profitable for Microsoft, especially given its ongoing efforts to acquire Activision Blizzard, a major player in the gaming industry. Activision Blizzard owns King, one of the largest providers of mobile games, including the wildly popular Candy Crush. If Microsoft's acquisition is approved, they will have access to even more resources and expertise when they launch their own mobile app store.

Microsoft is ready

While the new regulation provides a ray of hope for Microsoft, it is possible that it will be postponed. Meanwhile, the company is still awaiting approval from global regulators to acquire Activision Blizzard, which could take some time. Nonetheless, with their sights set on mobile gaming, Microsoft hopes to establish itself as a major player in the industry and challenge Apple and Google's dominance.