Microsoft is launching an Xbox Store for Android this summer

Microsoft is preparing to launch an Xbox store for Android and iOS devices and says it plans to have the store ready for users this summer. Speak with Bloomberg Technology Summit this week, Xbox president Sarah Bond spoke about the company’s plans to offer players an Xbox store no matter what device they use. The goal is to give players an Xbox store that goes with them, whether they’re using iOS or Android, and they can access all the things associated with that account or profile.

“There isn’t really a shopping experience on a gaming platform that is truly cross-device – where who you are, your library, your identity and your rewards travel with you rather than being locked into a single ecosystem,” Bond said. While Bond doesn’t provide many details about this shopping experience, it’s clear that Microsoft wants players to have an experience that is “truly cross-platform.”

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

The Xbox Store for Android and iOS launches on the web

While an app might be more convenient for users, it also means that Microsoft would be subject to Google and Apple’s store licensing fees. There are policy changes in the works, but they haven’t been implemented yet and Microsoft seems to want to get this off the ground. According to Bond, the main reason Microsoft is getting into the web is so that the Xbox Store mobile experience will be accessible on all devices and in all countries. Without the limitations of ‘closed ecosystem stores’. Microsoft will launch the store in July, so availability isn’t far off.

The store will start offering things like Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft

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

Bond also suggests that Microsoft has plans to launch a true Xbox mobile shopping app that could rival Google and Apple’s shopping options. There is no set date for this yet, or details, but… Bond does confirm it that there are plans to ‘expand beyond the web’ at some point in the future.

Sarah Bond, @Microsoft‘s Xbox president, announced on #BloombergTech that the company will launch its own mobile game store in July, creating an alternative to Apple and Google’s app stores pic.twitter.com/ojkgIQQGNh

— Bloomberg Live (@BloombergLive) May 9, 2024