Microsoft’s Mobile Gaming Store Is Being Tested Internally At Xbox

We’ve been hearing about Microsoft building its own mobile gaming store for a while now, and a new statement from Xbox sheds some light on the situation and where we’re at with it. Initially expected to launch last month, Microsoft has now confirmed that the store is still being tested internally before any sort of public release.

In response to an official Xbox Insider image spreading around the community, Xbox’s head of communications Kari Perez has confirmed that “testing has begun” on the store over at Team Xbox – but they haven’t committed to a public release date just yet (via The Verge).

“Testing has begun for our browser-based mobile store,

Our work is progressing well and we will have more to share in the future.”

During the whole ActiBlizz saga, Microsoft told the UK CMA that its mobile Xbox store was being built to “shift consumers away” from Apple and Google; both of whom have almost total control of the mobile store market. Xbox boss Phil Spencer also inferred that its release date wasn’t far away last November, so we’re expecting to see it crop up publicly in some form soon.

In any case, this mobile storefront plan doesn’t seem to be going away, and we can be sure that Xbox is still working on it right now. Xbox Insiders, it might be worth keeping your eyes out for news on this shortly!