Microsoft to bring Xbox and PC games to Apple, Android phones: report

Fxds · June 25, 2013

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/24/us-microsoft-games-idUSBRE95N16J20130624

"(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp will offer its console and computer games for Apple Inc's iPhone and other smartphone platforms this fiscal year, through a tie-up with Japanese smartphone game maker Klab Inc, the Nikkei said on Monday.

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.

Microsoft's "Age of the Empires" will be available as a free-to-play game worldwide on smartphones by the end of the fiscal year 2013 and other titles will follow, the report said."

*UPDATE*

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/25/microsoft-games-idUSL2N0F01K520130625

"

Microsoft Corp will offer its popular "Age of Empires" game for Apple Inc's iPhone and other smartphones through a tie-up with Japan's KLab Inc, seeking to capture growth in a booming mobile game market.

Microsoft's gaming business is dependent primarily on its Xbox franchise but mobile devices have been eating into the gaming industry, luring consumers away from traditional consoles.

While the tech giant has released a few mobile games for iOS and Android like Wordament, "Age of Empires" is its most popular game to date to be offered beyond its own consoles.

The strategy is one that analysts argue other game machine makers such as Mario Brothers creator Nintendo Co Ltd could consider in a bid to leverage their software assets.

KLab will develop a mobile version of "Age of Empires" which will be released before the end of March, a KLab spokesperson said."

This could be awesome if done properly but this could also be bad,there must be a catch here.maybe the price of the games would be ridiculously expensive like the final fantasy or EA games.Im intrested to see how this pans out.hope this topic comes up during the live stream.