Microsoft is about to do something it should have done a long time ago. According to reports, Microsoft is looking to make its way into the Android and iOS domains with its developed games. These games are from both from the Xbox and Windows front.
As reported by Reuters, there is a high probability that Microsoft's Xbox and Windows games could be ported to Android smartphones and Apple's iPhone in the near future. Japanese news service Nikkei has reported that developer Klab will be handling the mobile versions of select games via a certain licensing deal.
“Through a licensing deal, Klab will bring Microsoft's Xbox and Windows-based computer games to the iPhone and smartphones using Google Inc's Android operating system, according to the Nikkei,” the Reuters report states.
While we are yet to catch up on the titles selected for this port, the massively popular (and close to all our hearts) Age of Empires is set to be one of the first such titles that will arrive by the end of the 2013 fiscal year, alongside being a free-to-play title. However, no such details regarding the Xbox games were revealed.
While we are far from a real confirmation from Microsoft on this topic, if true, it could arrive as a huge boost for all mobile gamers that don’t have a Windows Phone. Until now, Microsoft’s own mobile platform has enjoyed access to a number of Xbox and PC games with only a small handful of titles being ported to Android and iOS.
However, if followed carefully, the decision to port MS games to other notable platforms shouldn’t really come as a surprise following the recent release of Office Mobile for iOS. And if there’s a possibility of that on the iOS, then surely Android is also a probable target. Not only for softwares, but also for gaming apps.
“While it’s true that a mobile version of Office is finally available for iOS, there are a few caveats to be aware of. First, the software suite is currently only optimized for the iPhone. That doesn’t mean it won’t work on the iPad but it’ll only run in iPhone compatibility mode. What’s more – and perhaps more frustrating to millions of potential users – is the fact that Office Mobile for iOS is limited to Office 365 subscribers only,” TechSpot has pointed out.
On top of that, Microsoft has already shown its acceptance for other mobile platforms outside that of Windows Phone and Windows 8 / RT when the company went on to release of its SmartGlass app on Android and iOS.
