Xbox bought Call of Duty, and now, it wants even more of the gaming business in its back pocket.
Bloomberg reported that the major console manufacturer is looking to expand into the realm of mobile gaming, specifically by launching its own mobile game storefront à la the App Store or Play Store.
This isn't based on anonymous sources, either; Xbox head Phil Spencer said it entirely out loud at the CCXP comics convention in Sao Paulo.
“It’s an important part of our strategy and something we are actively working on today not only alone, but talking to other partners who’d also like to see more choice for how they can monetize on the phone,’ Spencer said, per Bloomberg. He also clarified that this is probably not "multiple years away," suggesting the store could launch within the next year.
The move makes sense for a number of reasons. For starters, Microsoft (one could say prematurely) exited the smartphone business about a decade ago when it stopped producing Windows Phones, leaving a ton of potential income on the table that Apple, Google, and Samsung have been lapping up ever since.
Beyond that, though, Xbox's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard gave it the rights to massive mobile games like Candy Crush and Call of Duty Mobile. Putting those (and other) titles in its own storefront where it gets a cut of every dollar spent would surely produce some nice passive income for the company.
Regardless, if you like mobile games, get ready to download yet another app.
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