Xbox’s mobile game store to initially allow only in-game purchases

The store is expected to launch in July'24

2 min. read

Published onMay 22, 2024

published onMay 22, 2024

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For the last few years, there have been rumours thatMicrosoft will unveil a dedicated Xbox game storefor mobile, a platform it has yet to tap into. Earlier this month, Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, confirmed these reports and shared that the mobile game store will be launched inJuly’24.

In aninterview withBloomberg, Sarah said,

Now, reports coming in suggest that the Xbox game store for mobile will only support in-game transactions, like cosmetics and currency, and not actual game purchases, at least initially.

Stephen Totilo,who extensively covers video games, shared the developments in apost on X(formerly Twitter).

Heard from PR today that this mobile web store will initially be for in-game items for Candy Crush, Minecraft, etc. (Sounds like workaround from paying unpopular platform fees to Apple/Google)Bond calls it “first step…to building a trusted app store with its roots in gaming”https://t.co/RCnht4OC2g

Besides, for now, the Xbox game store will be available as a website and not a downloadable app. Using a website, Microsoft can easily bypass restrictions enforced by Apple and Google on apps hosted in their dedicated stores. Additonally, this will help Xbox offer higher discounts, given it doesn’t have to pay any fees to Apple or Google.

At the end of the day, the good news is that, with Sarah Bond already confirming the introduction of first-party and third-party titles, your favourite games will be available on the Xbox mobile game store some time down the line.

Xbox has long been aiming to tap into the mobile gaming landscape, a market worth over $100 billion. And the timing couldn’t have been better, especially with the recentActivision Blizzardacquisitionand theEU enforcing DMA(Digital Markets Act).

Are you excited about the Xbox mobile game store? Share with our readers in the comments section.

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Xbox’s mobile game store to initially allow only in-game purchases