Microsoft Plans to Build a New Mobile App Store to Rival Apple, Google

Microsoft is reportedly looking to build its exclusive mobile game store to challenge Apple's and Google's dominance on the market by July.

According to Bloomberg, the planned game store will launch on the web, rather than as an app, to make it "accessible across all devices, all countries, no matter what, independent of the policies of closed ecosystem stores."

The planned web store models after the European Union's Digital Markets Act allows tech companies to build their direct-to-consumer platforms to avoid Apple and Google's fees.

More Xbox, Bethesda, and Activision Titles May Arrive on Mobile Soon

The upcoming platform is expected to host many exclusive Xbox, Activision, and Bethesda titles, all under Microsoft, to differentiate itself from its top competitors.

There is no indication if the tech giant also plans to introduce its Game Pass subscription to mobile players the same way as Google's Play Pass.

The report came just two days after Microsoft shut down one of its mobile game developer studios, Alpha Dog Games, to prioritize "high-impact titles."

Tech Companies Take Advantage of DMA to Open Dedicated Web Store

Microsoft is not the only industry giant taking advantage of the DMA's policies to debut its own game stores away from the 30% developer charge rate on the Apple App and Google Play Stores.

TikTok has already launched a dedicated web store for users to sell and purchase products without going through Apple's or Google's payment option.

Epic Games has also announced intentions to bring a dedicated app store on Android and iOS to provide "developers with a distribution channel based on fairness and openness."

Epic Games' antitrust lawsuit against Google only ensured that more game developers and publishers would launch their separate app stores to get over Apple and Google's longtime monopoly on the industry.