Microsoft is planning to launch its own store for mobile games – both Android and iOS – possibly as soon as next year. The big determining factor for whether or not it becomes a reality will be if Microsoft’s planned $75bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard goes ahead. This deal is still awaiting clearance from regulators.

Microsoft Gaming chief executive Phil Spencer explained the plans, stating that the prospective app store would boost competition in the space. Certain antitrust authorities believe that Google and Apple’s app stores operate as a duopoly.

Spencer explained that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard would help Microsoft to start offering an array of mobile games. Some of the most popular games from the video game publisher include Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, and Diablo Immortal. Spencer believes that these big-name titles could help to pry people away from the Google and Apple marketplaces and over to an Xbox mobile gaming store.