Mobile Mavens
Mobile Mavens: Can Xbox's mobile games store succeed?
We ask industry experts for their thoughts on Microsoft's upcoming marketplace that aims to compete with Apple and Google
Company Profile
Microsoft
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www.microsoft.com
About
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
Related People
Agostino Simonetta
Director for global partnership management ID@Xbox
Miguel Vicente
Audience Marketing Manager, Portugal
Asha Sharma
EVP and CEO of Microsoft Gaming
Satya Nadella
CEO
Brad Smith
President
Andy Lunique
Influencer Relations Manager
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Accolades
Articles featuring Microsoft
Podcast | Episode 11
Xbox in turmoil, Krafton champions AI development, and Apple's iPad challenge | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and and what's inside this week's episode 11…
Week That Was
Week in Views - Xbox's mobile games store is doomed to fail, Sonic meets the Angry Birds, and Apple's iPad problem
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Xbox Mobile
Xbox mobile games store launches on web in July
New marketplace to launch with Microsoft's own-IP first, including Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft
Loads Of Layoffs
More Xbox cutbacks hit ZeniMax with only Microsoft’s mobile ventures now unscathed
Microsoft’s Alpha Dog, Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and ZeniMax have all been impacted this week
Job Losses
Microsoft closes Mighty Doom dev Alpha Dog, Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and more
Bethesda the latest in the firing line following 1,900+ layoffs at Activision and Xbox earlier this year
Week That Was
Week in Views - Mobile gets blanked at the BAFTAs, Apple goes retro and Nintendo pulls the plug
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Microsoft's Might
Microsoft saves the day: Activision Blizzard games are set to return to China in new NetEase deal
The untimely end of Activision Blizzard and NetEase’s deal meant that games such as Overwatch and World of Warcraft have spent over a year offline in China
Age Of Mobile
How TiMi Studio and World's Edge are adapting Age of Empires for mobile
PocketGamer.biz speaks to TiMi Studio Group GM Brayden Fan and producer Robin Xin about the strategy game's development
Jobs News
Mobile Movers: All the latest appointments and job moves from around the industry
Moving and shaking - there's new roles at Supercell, Keywords Studios, Microsoft, Griffin Gaming Partners, AdInMo and The Games Fund
Hot Five
Hot Five: Microsoft goes multiplat, Fortnite to return to iOS, but global games industry layoffs continue
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Multiplat Microsoft
What does Microsoft's "more games to more people on more devices" mean for mobile?
Microsoft walks a fine line with Xbox fans while naming the first four titles coming to other platforms
Week That Was
Week in Views - Xbox App Store appetite, Zuck's Vision Pro dis and Japan goes geo-loco!
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Xbox App Store
Microsoft's app store intentions, new hardware and an Xbox Cloud Gaming app on iOS?
While disappointing cross-platform plans took centre stage at the Xbox business update, glimmers of app store plans and new hardware saved the day
Microsoft Mucks Up
FTC cries foul at Microsoft’s 1,900 layoffs with Activision Blizzard merger under threat
Microsoft counter claim that Activision Blizzard were already planning layoffs before taking them on
Streaming To Ios
It's not just App Stores… Apple make big changes for cloud gaming and webkit too
While the introduction of Apple's new Core Technology Fee has grabbed headlines, DMA compliancy has opened the door for web devs and game streaming
New Broom
Blizzard president Mike Ybarra is out as Microsoft lays off 1,900
The inevitable restructure and consolidation of the two giants - with the nuking of dual roles and now superfluous departments - didn't take long…
Macrosoft
Microsoft talk AI and topple Apple, making them the world’s biggest public company
Microsoft shares were up 3% last week while Apple’s were down by 3%, enough of a tip to put neck-and-neck Microsoft over the top
The Only Way Is Up
Investment in and around the games industry dropped by 79% in 2023
While in America it dropped 86%… But with profits and share prices on the increase, is the scene now set for a bounceback?
Kotick Conclusion
Leadership changes under Microsoft as Bobby Kotick departure date confirmed
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard means leadership changes and a transition period ahead
Expanding Reach
Africa and India are in Microsoft's sights for ad-supported game streaming
The Xbox giant is planning on using ads to reach new players and expand its audience
New Competition
Microsoft accelerates plans for Xbox mobile marketplace launch
“This move is part of a broader strategy to extend the joy and community of Xbox gaming beyond consoles, bringing it into the mobile world," claims Montgomery Singman
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news, including games tech making movies, Microsoft's app store aspirations and procuring prize Pokémon…
Microsoft Mobile
Microsoft in discussions with potential partners over mobile app store for games
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer hints its launch may not be far off
Mobile Mavens
Mobile Mavens: One month on, what next for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard?
A month ago today Microsoft closed it’s deal and with no immediate upsets was it all a storm in a teacup? Or 28 days later, is the apocalypse imminent? We ask the experts…
Acquiblizz
Microsoft's Xbox boss Phil Spencer sticks to Call of Duty non exclusivity promise
"We have no goal of somehow trying to use Call of Duty to get you to buy an Xbox console."
Fallout Series
Fallout TV series gets April 2024 release date
The adaptation of the hit franchise is just the latest sign that Hollywood is turning to games
Hot Five
Hot Five: Unity’s new CEO, Applovin rumours, and the biggest deal in games industry history is complete
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Done Deal
Microsoft's mobile mishaps: Why the Activision Blizzard deal had to happen
The tech giant has had a troubled history on mobile. Could gaming's biggest ever deal finally put right their wrongs?
It's Over
It's official. Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is now complete
The "legendary teams" at Activision Blizzard and King are now part of Team Xbox
Acquiblizz
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard: The complete timeline
From inception to lawsuits - how has the biggest deal in gaming history progressed?
Mission Accomplished
Done deal: Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal approved by UK regulators
Video game's biggest deal ever just got approved with Activision Blizzard becoming part of Microsoft for $68.7 billion
Cloud Competition
Amazon and Microsoft cloud services to face CMA competition probe
The competition and markets authority will investigate the tech giants to ensure fair play
Acquiblizz
Microsoft hopes to close its Activision Blizzard deal as early as October 13
The long-running saga may finally be coming to a close
Acquiblizz
The CMA gives Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard its provisional approval
The UK's competition watchdog has long been the largest remaining hurdle in the deal's way
Xbox Leaks
Microsoft's big gaming leak: Meet Brooklin, Sebile, Ellewood and more…
Undisclosed documents surface revealing Microsoft's new hardware, cloud and mobile plans and company's aim to deliver gaming everywhere
Week That Was
Week in Views - What caught our eyes in the last seven days
The Pocketgamer.biz team take their pick of this weeks big news including the rebirth of a legend and the creation of a new genre
Acquiblizz
Microsoft’s Phil Spencer stresses the importance of mobile in Xbox’s future success
The Xbox boss claims that Xbox needs mobile presence to thrive
Acquiblizz
Activision Blizzard's Bobby Kottick clarifies his company's position in the latest deal twist
With Microsoft cutting their cloud gaming titles adrift, what does that mean for Activision Blizzard?
Aquiblizz
Microsoft sell cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft to dodge the UK's Activision Blizzard deal block
And the deal goes on… All parties are agreed on the new UK-specific arrangement with an October 18 deadline for final approval
Breakdown
Drake Star's Global Gaming Report: Breaking down the numbers, charts and more
What do Drake Star’s charts and graphs tell us about the gaming industry today?
Acuiblizz
FTC to appeal against the judge’s decision in Microsoft case
A San Francisco judge denied the regulatory body’s preliminary injunction against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Acquiblizz
California judge denies the FTC’s preliminary injunction against Microsoft
The FTC’s attempts to scupper Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard have hit a roadblock
No Halo Killer
ID@Xbox's Chris Charla on discoverability and launching into a saturated market
The three day conference opens with a short talk on indie devs from which game makers on all platform can draw insights
Legislation
Google, Apple and others now have six months to comply with new digital markets rules
The Digital Markets Act in the EU will see digital “gatekeepers” forced to adhere to new rules
Competition Authority
South African authorities unconditionally approve Activision Blizzard acquisition
Another win for Microsoft despite home-grown struggles
Sonic Speculations
Microsoft acquiring Sega? Rumours get extinguished by COO Shuji Utsumi
The Federal Trade Commission’s suit against Microsoft reveals notions of acquiring Sega… Which went precisely nowhere
Ranking
AppLovin takes downloads top spot for US companies worldwide
Data.ai's latest shows mobile-first beating the big names to take pole position
Documentation
Zynga, Playrix and Niantic were all potential entries on Microsoft’s shopping list
News comes as part of the revelation Microsoft considered buying Sega
Delays
New Zealand competition authorities to delay decision on Activision Blizzard acquisition to July 17th
The delay comes as the US FTC and UK CMA both levy actions against the landmark deal