Microsoft porting first-party game franchises to Android and iOS

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http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/06/age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/24/nikkei-microsoft-porting-first-party-games-to-android-ios/)Microsoft is selective about where its first-party game franchises appear -- outside of lightweight releases like Kinectimals and Wordament, it prefers to use games astechnology (http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/10/Xbox-One-halo-title-announced/) showcases (http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/halo-spartan-assault-hands-on/) and system sellers (http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/15/xbox-360-halo-4-bundle-fights-new-enemies-packs-familiar-system/). It may not be picky for much longer, though, as Nikkei claims that Microsoft has reached a deal with Japan's KLab to develop Android and iOS versions of its first-party titles. The deal reportedly includes adaptations of both PC and Xbox games, and would start with a free-to-play variant o***e of Empires that could launch before the end of the 2013 fiscal year. We've reached out to Microsoft to verify the rumor, but it's clear that the arrangement could be a breakthrough for gamers who aren't wedded to Microsoft's existing mobile strategy.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/24/nikkei-microsoft-porting-first-party-games-to-android-ios/