Xbox Live Games Possibly Coming to iOS & Android
A company job listing indicates that Microsoft wants to develop Xbox Live games that are cross-platform capable on Windows Phone, iOS and Android. Will they work on the console and Windows 8 too?
There's speculation that Microsoft plans to launch Xbox Live-based games on enemy platforms like iOS and Android. They won't be loaded with malware or anything else equally as sinister, but instead will be straight-up titles that are cross-platform capable across all three mobile environments -- maybe even on Windows 8 and the Xbox 360 console.
The WP7/iOS/Android speculation stems from a recent Microsoft job posting for a software development engineer to work in Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business division, specifically for Xbox LIVE.
"[The] Xbox LIVE Mobile team is looking for a passionate and experienced developer to join us [in] bringing Xbox LIVE entertainment experiences to various mobile platforms," the job description reads. "As the team inside IEB (Interactive Entertainment Business) dedicated to mobile experiences, we work closely with console software team and Xbox LIVE services team to bring the latest and greatest gaming and entertainment experience to mobile platforms including Windows Phone, iOS and other mobile platforms."
Can't get any clearer than that, right?
Responsibilities of this role will include working with the PM and the test team to define, design and implement Xbox Live mobile experiences on Windows Phone, iOS and other platforms, providing technical assessment and feasibility analysis on product requirements. The candidate will also work with Microsoft internal teams to deliver customized Xbox Live experiences to mobile devices, and investigate and prototype on new mobile technologies.
After news of the job opening began to circulate, a developer familiar with Microsoft's plans confirmed the job listing and the direction Microsoft plans to take. "Xbox is a client of ours," the developer said. "There's no way they'll be ignoring those other mobile platforms."
Microsoft launched the My Xbox Live app for Apple's iOS devices last month. The company also released an Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone during the same time period. So far Microsoft hasn't officially made any announcements about developing games for iOS and Android, but there's a good chance we'll learn more next week during CES 2012, as Microsoft will reportedly be focused on Windows Phone and the Xbox Live platform.
- Rumor: Xbox 720 and PS4 Appearing at E3 2012
- MasterImage 3D Launches HD Glasses-Free 3D for Mobile
- This iPod/iPhone Dock Pumps Audio/Video to 23" HD LCD
- Vuzix Intros SMART Glasses Tech at CES
- LG, Others Showcasing Google TV 2.0 at CES Next Week
- Scientists Create Self-Healing Electronics
- Microsoft Patent Hints at Possible DVR in Xbox 720
- Apple to Pay Elan $5 Million in Multitouch Patent Settlement
- C-Jump Programming Board Game is Geekier Than D&D
- Steve Jobs Doll Draws Legal Threats from Apple
- EMI Sues Groovehsark Over Missed Royalty Payments
- Berkeley's BOINC Reaches 2B Results Milestone for SETI@Home
- Navy Touts Revolutionary Material to Amplify Force of Weapons
- MIT Scientist Demands Gas Tax to Make Cars More Efficient
- Fructel Unveils Snap-on Game Controller for Smartphones
- RIM Ships BlackBerry OS 7.1, Intros PlayBook OS 2.0
- A Quick Look At Fujitsu's Waterproof Arrows Tablet
- LG's New Cinema 3D Smart TVs Have 1mm Bezel
- Samsung Intros Wi-Fi Optical Drive for Streaming, Writing
this could be interesting
Microsoft following Sony's lead in bringing games to Android. iOS on the other hand is a surprise.
I wonder if Apple will make an iOS vs Android commercial a la "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC."
When will our (PC gamers') turn come to play Xbox games? Common MS, give us some attention too!
When will our (PC gamers') turn come to play Xbox games? Common MS, give us some attention too!
The are already working on implementing Xbox support to windows 8.
Can't see myself gaming on any sort of smartphone, but i'm sure millions of kids who just got smartphone's for Christmas would love to disagree with me.
YAY this would mean decent games an tablets!! (for the time away from a desktop)
"So far Microsoft hasn't officially made any announcements about developing games for iOS and Android"
Are you ignoring Kinectimals which is already available on iOS here?
Trust problems. Microsoft needs Android and iOS to fail. No way do I want anything they've touched on my phone.
well they gotta do something coz the numbers say xbox sales are stagnant/falling...
well they gotta do something coz the numbers say xbox sales are stagnant/falling...
I think you might be looking at the wrong numbers, PS3 ones perhaps.
cant handle the truth so you negs me... how sad is that...
aww diddums did i upset you.... poor baby... have a sooker.
http://n4g.com/news/185069/xbox-36 [...] ys-pachter b4 you take a huff and spit yer dummy, i only deal in facts... so if you cant handle the truth you best move on and grow up...
cant handle the truth so you negs me... how sad is that...aww diddums did i upset you.... poor baby... have a sooker.http://n4g.com/news/185069/xbox-36 [...] ys-pachter b4 you take a huff and spit yer dummy, i only deal in facts... so if you cant handle the truth you best move on and grow up...
You got to be trolling, right? This link is from a more than 3 years old news that has been qualified as rumor by the commenters.
Anyway. I hope those games will not require an high-end new generation smartphone. There could be more game on android.
yep that link is 3 years old but it still stands... its a sad reality but pc is really the only growth market in gaming. consoles have stagnated at about 23billion (still quite an impressive number) for the last 3 years and shows no sign of increasing... and that data was released last month...
pc on the other hand has just reached 22billion and will hit if the current trend lasts 25billion by the end of this year.
so no m8 im not trolling just trying to be accurate.
Yeah.... Thats what they said with "games for windows". Hope they do, but I'll believe it when I see it.
As rohitbaran said, it would be nice to see MGS publishing AAA games for windows again. But Xbox Support in windows 8 still doesn't mean anything until we get some solid details at E3.
But they've done nothing with GFW about the piracy issue, or sales to incentivize purchasing games online (versus piracy) means they need to score more exclusives. These days there are many solution MGS can draw from to encourage PC games to buy games again.. not just torrent them on a pirated copy of windows and play them.
If Microsoft can make of Win8 a secure content delivery platform as well as encourage more developers to migrate from mobile exclusives to mobile/console/windows games I think it would finally get some people off of Windows XP.
how about an android OS on the xbox? that would be interesting. I know nothing of if this would work, but if not they could run android OS on top of the base OS
Good thinking by MS. Locking themselves in a Silo will not help their business to expand. Apple should learn some cue here.
When will our (PC gamers') turn come to play Xbox games? Common MS, give us some attention too!
Many Xbox games already are cross-platform on the PC as well (look at Mass Effect). Microsoft still also has their (oft overlooked, unfortunately) Games for Windows Live which hooks into the Live network with your PC game, similar to the way Steam does. Bioshock 2 is an example, as well as Halo 2. If only game manufacturers supported it more. If they really wanted to, they could release two versions, one on Steam and one on Games for Windows Live. Then we could choose what PC gaming platform to go for.