Microsoft to Develop Mobile Gaming App Store for Smartphones by Early 2024

Microsoft to load its own mobile app game store like Google and Apple for Android phones and iPhones, but is facing opposition from regulators.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: March 21, 2023

Microsoft has plans to develop mobile games store for Android smartphones and iPhones as early as next year. Its regulatory approval is pending for $75 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Phil Spencer, the gaming chief of Microsoft said that the goal of the firm is to offer content from third-party partners and Xbox on any screen that people want to access. Phil Spencer also said that the DMA (Digital Market Act) of the EU will come into effect in March 2024.

And this will assist the firm to achieve the goals for the mobile app store. With the DMA in effect, it will allow businesses to put their app stores on Android phones and iPhones by asking Google and Apple to open their systems. Even if currently, it is not possible to do so on mobile devices, they want to move towards a world and build the technology they think will ensue as the devices open up.

The impact on competition is a concern and the regulators from Europe, the UK, and the US also spoke on this in regards to Microsoft, the Xbox console’s owner acquiring one of the popular game franchises, the developer of Call of Duty. Because of this, the regulators and Microsoft both are in a battle already.

The tech giant has received an antitrust warning from the European Union about the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The EU officials in their report also detailed the potential threat and concerns to fair competition in the market for video games and the reasons for the deal’s objections. The FTC (US Federal Trade Commission) also filed a lawsuit about the acquisition of the video game developer Activision Blizzard, by Microsoft.

Phil Spencer said that the acquisition will enhance the competition, especially on the dominant platform for gaming, such as smartphones. Most people use Google and Apple are used for the distribution of apps and games. And this concern about duopoly was also expressed by the antitrust authorities.