Microsoft's Xbox Live cross-platform gaming coming to iOS and Android

Microsoft is expected to unveil a new Software Development Kit (SDK) during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2019 which will allow developers to include Xbox Live features on their iOS and Android games.

The conference will take place between March 18 and March 22, and Microsoft is scheduled to make a presentation about cross-platform gaming during the event.

Microsoft's SDK will allow developers to include Xbox Live features on a compatible game across iOS, Android, Windows, Xbox, and even a Nintendo Switch. Additionally, players on these platforms will be able to carry on their phone information like their list of friends, gaming accomplishments, clubs they belong to and more.

Microsoft says that by adding Xbox Live capabilities to the top two smartphone platforms, the number of devices that support it will soar from 400 million gaming consoles to more than 2 billion devices.

"Xbox Live is one of the largest, most engaged gaming communities on the planet with decades of experience providing managed game services to developers that save you time and unlock all of the social and engagement features that players love...Now Xbox Live is about to get MUCH bigger. Xbox Live is expanding from 400M gaming devices and a reach to over 68M active players to over 2B devices with the release of our new cross-platform XDK...Get a first look at the SDK to enable game developers to connect players between iOS, Android, and Switch in addition to Xbox and any game in the Microsoft Store on Windows PCs."

-Microsoft

Microsoft already offers similar support for Minecraft, where players can sign into their Xbox Live accounts and play across iOS and Android.