Xbox is working with its partner companies to launch a mobile gaming platform to compete with Google Play and The App Store. Phil Spencer briefly discussed Microsoft’s plans during a recent interview in São Paulo. He did not go into specifics but indicated that the new storefront isn’t too far in the future.
Xbox’s mobile platform may launch soon
According to Bloomberg, reporters caught up with the head of Microsoft’s gaming division at the CCXP comics convention in São Paulo, Brazil. “It’s an important part of our strategy and something we are actively working on today not only alone, but talking to other partners who’d also like to see more choice for how they can monetize on the phone,” Spencer said of Microsoft expansion into mobile gaming.
Earlier reports indicated that Xbox’s mobile game store may launch next year. Spencer couldn’t give an exact date but indicated it was coming soon. “I don’t think this is multiple years away,” he said, “I think this is sooner than that.”
It’s not a coincidence that this interview happened in Brazil. The last few years saw Microsoft focus heavily on expanding its Game Pass subscription service. This includes expanding service to more countries. While Costa Rica and Peru lead Latin America in new Game Pass signups, Brazil is a much larger market. “In many ways, Brazil leads a lot of the trends that we see globally,” Spencer said.
However, mobile gaming remains a considerable part of Brazil’s gaming market, somewhere Microsoft lags behind. While Cloud Gaming allows users to stream games to their phones, it’s primarily a PC and console-focused service. An Xbox mobile game store could give Microsoft access to a vast market, assuming everything goes according to plan.
