Kabam abandons Windows Phone development after releasing just one game

Windows Central has learned that Kabam, one of the biggest mobile game developers, has decided to stop making titles from the Windows Phone platform. This decision represents a complete reversal of Kabam's original plans to support Windows Phone after previously announcing a major push to release games for Microsoft's mobile OS, along with Windows 8.1

In June 2014, Kabam announced their plans to release many of their current games for Windows Phone and Windows 8.1. Here's what they said they would do in their original press release:

"As part of the deal, Kabam will deliver its lineup of hit games to Windows tablets and phones over the next year, including Fast & Furious 6: The Game, Dragons of Atlantis: Heirs of the Dragon and The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth. Moving forward, Windows users will be able to play future Kabam games in the same timeframe as other platforms."

However, since that announcement, Kabam had been slow to fulfill that promise, to say the least. Indeed, it wasn't until November 2014 before the company finally released its first Windows Phone-Windows 8.1 game, Fast and Furious 6. Since that time, Kabam has not launched any further games for Microsoft's platforms.

Since it has been over ten months since that original announcement, we contacted Kabam to get a status report on their Windows Phone game release plans. We received an email response from their head of corporate communications Steve Swasey:

"Kabam is now concentrating development on AAA quality games for Apple and Android mobile devices and has decided not pursue development for Windows Phones. Kabam is concentrating its resources on the biggest market opportunity, which is Apple and Android devices worldwide."

This is obviously some disappointing news for Windows Phone gamers who had been looking forward to playing Kabam games on their devices. Hopefully the company might consider launching games for Microsoft's Windows 10 platform in the future.

John Callaham