Microsoft is planning to launch an Xbox store on iOS and Android platforms by next year, according to Phil Spencer, the head of the company’s gaming division. Microsoft has been working on a mobile version of its Xbox store for some time, but the launch had been subject to regulatory approval of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Spencer said that the proposed Digital Markets Act (DMA) would be a huge opportunity for such a launch. The DMA requires major platforms designated as “gatekeepers” by the European Union to open their devices to competing app stores. However, Spencer acknowledged that there was no guarantee that the Activision Blizzard acquisition would close before the new rules become enforceable.
Microsoft’s Xbox head suggests their mobile game store might debut in 2022.
