Microsoft And Gameloft Agree To Launch Flagship Titles Simultaneously On Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8

With the mobile phone sector stealing its fair share of gaming dollars from the traditional handheld market, Microsoft has decided to do something pretty smart: team up with a major publisher of games in order to shape titles up for launch onto both its mobile and desktop platforms. This week, Microsoft inked a deal with Gameloft, and the partnership is a fairly unique one. All told, 15 Gameloft titles will be headed Microsoft's way in the next dozen months, but here's where it gets interesting: Beginning with the releases this Fall of "Asphalt 8: Airborne" and "Dungeon Hunter 4," Gameloft will launch a complete line-up of blockbusters across many genres simultaneously on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.


You read that correctly; these games will be launching day-and-date on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, opening up all sorts of cross-platform gameplay opportunities. The 15 new titles build on 10 Gameloft games released for Windows Phone 8 in 2013. Gameloft and Microsoft will showcase "Asphalt 8: Airborne," the hotly anticipated sequel to Gameloft’s legendary arcade racing series, on Windows 8 devices at Gamescom, and beyond "Asphalt 8: Airborne" and "Dungeon Hunter 4," gamers will also see the release of "Despicable Me: Minion Rush," "Total Conquest," "Six Guns" and "UNO & Friends" by the end of 2013.

We're guessing that similar deals will be announced as time goes on. It only makes sense for companies to try and tap into that mobile surge, and with the PS Vita and PS4 playing so well together, that's a perfect duo for deals like this to spread over to.