Microsoft has announced its foray into the mobile gaming market, revealing that it will launch its own mobile gaming store in July 2024. This strategic move follows their acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which not only brings renowned franchises like Call of Duty and Overwatch under Microsoft's umbrella but also includes mobile gaming giant King, the developer of Candy Crush. With the success of Call of Duty on mobile and the enduring popularity of Candy Crush, Microsoft is clearly setting its sights on capturing a significant share of the lucrative mobile gaming sector.

The Microsoft mobile gaming store will begin as a web-based platform, ensuring widespread accessibility across various devices, with plans to release a dedicated app eventually. The initial portfolio will feature games from Microsoft-owned studios. The decision aligns with the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which facilitates the creation of alternative digital marketplaces. This announcement comes in the wake of some controversial closures of Microsoft's Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin studios, which has been met with frustration from the gaming community.

What are the potential advantages for gamers with the upcoming Microsoft mobile gaming store?

The advantages for gamers include increased competition in the mobile gaming market, which could lead to better deals, more variety, and potentially higher quality mobile games. Additionally, games from Microsoft-owned studios are likely to be featured, giving fans access to popular titles and possibly seamless integration with the Xbox ecosystem.

Background Information: Microsoft's entrance into the mobile gaming sector is a significant development given the company's extensive resources and its recent acquisition spree, including ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. With a robust lineup of intellectual properties and its Xbox Game Pass service, Microsoft is positioned to create a substantial presence in mobile gaming. The growth of Xbox Game Pass and its cloud gaming component, xCloud, also demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to expanding gaming accessibility across different platforms, further amplifying the potential impact of their upcoming mobile games store.