Xbox chief says Microsoft's launch of Xbox mobile game app store is ``not a few years away''

Microsoft has long been reported to be planning to create an Xbox-branded mobile gaming app store to compete with Apple's App Store and Google's Google Play in the mobile gaming app space. Phil Spencer, Microsoft's executive vice president of gaming, has revealed that this plan is not just a few years away, but could happen soon.

Microsoft In Talks To Launch App Store, Rivaling Apple - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-30/xbox-talking-to-partners-for-mobile-store-ceo-spencer-says

Xbox Pushing Ahead With Plans For Mobile Game Store, Which Isn't 'Multiple Years Away' - GameSpot
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-pushing-ahead-with-plans-for-mobile-game-store-which-isnt-multiple-years-away/1100-6519625/

Spencer said in an interview at the Comic Con Experience (CCXP) in São Paulo, Brazil, that ``(the mobile game app store) is an important part of Microsoft's strategy, and it's not just a standalone store, but more.'' 'This is a project we are actively working on in discussions with other partners who are looking for options,' he said, confirming that Microsoft is working on building a mobile game app store.

Although there was no specific mention of a release date for the mobile game app store, he said, 'I don't think it's going to be a few years away. I think it's going to be sooner than that.' He also mentions that it is not about the future.

In addition, in March 2023, Spencer said that Microsoft's mobile app store could appear as early as 2024.

Microsoft plans mobile game app store to compete with Apple and Google - GIGAZINE

In early 2023, Microsoft added 11 countries in Latin America to the coverage area of PC Game Pass , an all-you-can-play subscription service for Xbox, and succeeded in increasing the number of users by 7%. Peru and Costa Rica account for half of the new users, highlighting the high level of customer interest, Spencer said. Also, globally, Brazil is the second largest market for PC Game Pass in the world, and Spencer said, ``In many ways Brazil is leading many of the global trends.'' Ta. The mobile game app market is extremely popular in Brazil, but Microsoft is currently far behind in this market.

However, that doesn't mean Microsoft isn't doing anything to enter the mobile gaming app market either. Microsoft has acquired Activision Blizzard , which Spencer notes is also related to its expansion into the mobile gaming business. In fact, Activision Blizzard owns Candy Crush, one of the most popular apps in the history of mobile game apps, and just achieved sales of $ 20 billion (about 2.9 trillion yen) in September 2023.

With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft will not only own Candy Crush, but also games such as Call of Duty: Mobile and Diablo Immortal .

Microsoft is not the only company that recognizes the importance of the mobile game app market. Sony has also created a division focused on mobile games .