A cellular model of Microsoft’s Xbox retailer, designed to promote smartphone video games and first introduced in 2024, is now unlikely to occur.
As noticed by Microsoft API tracker RedPhx on X, and first reported by Home windows Central, the web site used to tease the upcoming Xbox cellular sport retailer now redirects to a 404 web page.
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Microsoft has but to make an announcement on the way forward for its cellular storefront, however eradicating its advertising is an indication that the undertaking is over. Microsoft’s gaming enterprise is presently being overhauled by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who just lately ended the model’s controversial “That is an Xbox” advertising push, which emphasised that video games could be performed on third-party units in addition to on consoles. The Xbox cellular retailer was probably loosely tied to that advertising push.
Plans for a cellular retailer have been a thorn in Microsoft’s facet ever since now-former Xbox President Sarah Bond first introduced it for a July 2024 launch, saying it might be used to host video games like Name of Responsibility: Cellular, Sweet Crush, and Minecraft throughout Android and iOS. Beta exams included reductions on in-app foreign money for Sweet Crush to encourage customers to modify to its retailer.
Microsoft then delayed the shop’s launch till the top of 2024, nevertheless it by no means arrived, and Xbox stopped offering official updates on its progress. Microsoft later positioned a part of the blame on Apple, citing its payment-related lawsuit in opposition to Epic Video games and the chance that Microsoft can be on the hook to offer Apple a minimize of its iOS sport gross sales.
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We gained’t know for positive about future plans for a cellular retailer till we hear from Microsoft, however the unceremonious takedown of its web site closely suggests it will not be occurring.
Within the final 24 hours, Microsoft additionally lowered the value of Xbox Sport Cross Final from $29.99 a month to $22.99. The worth remains to be greater than earlier than an October 2025 value hike, and also you not get entry to brand-new Name of Responsibility titles.
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