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Microsoft Announces X-Box Live for iOS and Android Games

Microsoft is launching a cross-platform mobile software development kit (SDK) in an ambitious effort to bring their X-Box Live service to as many platforms as possible, starting with iOS and Android games.  Following on the heels of the rumors that Microsoft wants to bring it’s robust Game Pass service to Nintendo’s popular Switch game system, the software giant is upping the ante on co-operative gaming, and the possibilities that are presented by an integrated experience.

The SDK, called GameStack, will allow game developers to bring X-Box Live functionality to their games that run on iOS and Android–including friends lists, achievements, clubs, family settings and more.  Developers will also be able to pick and choose which of these functions they allow in their games, enabled through a single login through a Microsoft application.  Some games currently allow the use of X-Box Achievements already, but Microsoft is looking to expand on that footprint, allowing for a more inclusive gaming community.

We believe so strongly in community, and X-box Live really being at the heart of our gaming community.  If you watch what we’ve done, especially with Minecraft, over the past few years we’ve taken X-box Live to as many platforms as Minecraft is on as possible. Really uniting all those communities together with a consistent singular experience for those gamers.

Microsoft also plans to push the use of its Xcloud game streaming service, which is their path–eventually–to bringing Game Pass to the Nintendo Switch, on the iOS and Android platforms.

If you’ve watched us for the past few years, we’ve taken a very inclusive approach.  Phil [Spencer] has been very proactive on issues like cross-play, cross-progression, and uniting gamer networks, and we’re willing to partner with the industry as much as we possibly can.

This newest development in Microsoft’s business plan clearly opens up new avenues for X-Box Live, possibly even on the Playstation platform.