X

Microsoft is launching an Xbox store for Android this Summer

Pictured: Justin Diaz
By Justin Diaz
May 10, 2024
Featured image for Microsoft is launching an Xbox store for Android this Summer

Microsoft is prepping the launch of an Xbox store for Android and iOS devices and says it plans to have the store ready for users by this Summer. Speaking to Bloomberg Technology Summit this week, Xbox President Sarah Bond talked about the company’s plans for bringing players an Xbox store no matter what device they’re on. The goal is to give players an Xbox store that moves with them regardless of whether or not they’re on iOS or Android, and they can access all the stuff associated with that account or profile.

“There isn’t really a gaming platform store experience that goes truly across devices — where who you are, your library, your identity, your rewards travel with you versus being locked to a single ecosystem,” Bond said. While Bond doesn’t give out a ton of details on this store experience, it’s clear Microsoft wants players to have an experience that’s “truly cross-platform.”

The challenge, of course, would be how Microsoft plans to get its store onto Android and iOS when both Google and Apple have policies in place to make this difficult. The answer is simple. The store won’t be an Android or iOS app.

The Xbox store for Android and iOS will start on the web

While an app might be more convenient for users, it also means Microsoft would be subject to Google and Apple’s store licensing fees. There are policy changes in the works but they aren’t in place yet and Microsoft seems to want to get this off and running. According to Bond, the main reason Microsoft is starting on the web is so the Xbox store mobile experience will be accessible across all devices and all countries. Without the constraints of “closed ecosystem stores.” Microsoft will launch the store in July so availability isn’t too far off.

The store will begin by offering things like Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft

There’s likely to be more than a few things in the store right off the jump. However, it’s unclear what Microsoft has planned for its launch window. Bond mentions that it’ll kick off with some of Xbox’s first-party content. So things like Candy Crush and Minecraft will be in the store for players to engage with. The Verge also notes that games like Call of Duty: Mobile will be in there, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile in this web store as well.

Bond also suggests that Microsoft has plans to launch a proper mobile Xbox store app that rivals Google and Apple’s store options. There’s no firm date on that yet, or any specifics, but Bond does confirm that there are plans to “extend beyond the web” at some point in the future.