Microsoft will offer its popular "Age of Empires" game for Apple's iPhone and other smartphones through a tie-up with Japan's KLab, seeking to capture growth in a booming mobile game market.
Microsoft's gaming business is dependent primarily on its Xbox franchise but mobile devices have been eating into the gaming industry, luring consumers away from traditional consoles.
While the tech giant has released a few mobile games for iOS and Android like Wordament, "Age of Empires" is its most popular game to date to be offered beyond its own consoles.
The strategy is one that analysts argue other game machine makers such as Mario Brothers creator Nintendo could consider in a bid to leverage their software assets.
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