Microsoft to bring Xbox Live to Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch

Microsoft to bring Xbox Alive to Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch

Microsoft's Xbox Live ecosystem is going to get a whole lot bigger

Xbox One

Microsoft is preparing a software development kit (SDK) that volition allow developers to integrate its Xbox Live gaming service into games that back up cross-play between PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS.

Every bit spotted by Windows Central , a description for an upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) session teases how the SDK will aggrandize Xbox Live from 68 one thousand thousand active players beyond 400 1000000 devices to two billion mobile devices.

The platform, which Microsoft refers to as XDX, will allow players to carry over their achievements history, friends lists, clubs and more between platforms. The goal is to keep gaming communities engaged and active, regardless of platform.

Microsoft says XDX'southward unified ecosystem will also help developers focus more than on making the actual games, rather than the infrastructure surrounding them. Further, Microsoft envisions XDX as a stepping-stone towards allowing players to "picket, buy, play, pause, and continue their games from one device to the next."

Currently, Microsoft'due south only Xbox Live mobile integration comes through achievements for a select few smartphone games that it published, includingMinecraft: Pocket EditionandHalo: Spartan Assail.

Meanwhile, the visitor supports cross-platform play between Xbox I, PC, Nintendo Switch and mobile on a number of games, includingMinecraft,which it owns, and Epic Games'Fortnite.

XDX is function of a larger attempt from Microsoft to expand its gaming presence exterior of the Xbox and PC ecosystems. Terminal October, the company also revealed that information technology is working on Project xCloud, a streaming service that aims to bring console-quality gaming experiences to mobile devices.

More information on XDX and Microsoft's larger cantankerous-platform plans will exist revealed at GDC on March 18th in San Francisco.

Source: GDC