Joe Rossignol
Microsoft is reportedly preparing to launch the Xbox Game Store on iPhone as early as next year, but those plans are subject to a host of regulatory measures.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Microsoft's games chief Phil Spencer said the app's launch is contingent on regulatory approval of the company's acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard. will provide Microsoft with a broader portfolio of mobile games. Second, the app will only be able to launch if the EU Digital Markets Act and other regulations that allow alternative iOS app stores apply.
“We want to be able to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners on any screen anyone wants to play,” Spencer told the Financial Times. “We can't do it on mobile today, but we want to build the world we think will be where those devices will be open.”
In December, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was preparing to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone to comply with the Digital Markets Act, which is expected to take effect on March 2024. Gurman said that Apple intended to roll out the changes with the iOS 17 update next year for iPhone users only in Europe, which means the Xbox Game Store won't be available in the US, at least not initially.
Xbox already offers a cloud gaming service for iPhone, but games can only be played online, not the App Store. Apple has faced increasing scrutiny from regulators due to tight control over the App Store, which has led the company to make changes in some countries, such as allowing alternative payments in South Korea.
Tags: Microsoft, Xbox[ 80 comments]
