Microsoft announced on Jan. 29 that it has acquired PlayFab.

Kareem Choudhry, the corporate vice president of Gaming at Microsoft, announced in a statement that PlayFab became part of the Microsoft family. PlayFab is a company that provides services for cloud-connected games with tools that game developers on all platforms, be it mobile, PC or console, can utilize. Moreover, the acquisition was an effort done by Microsoft Azure to "provide a world-class cloud platform for the gaming industry."

Choudry explained that the gaming industry is moving toward the intelligent cloud, which explains the rise in the number of developers finding ways to create cloud-connected games. However, the technology needed to do it is both complex and expensive. Microsoft saw PlayFab as an excellent solution to game developer's dilemma as the company provides the necessary infrastructures, enabling developers to make use of the intelligent cloud to "build and operate games, analyze gaming data and improve overall gaming experiences." 

Choudhry also explained that PlayFab is vital to Microsoft for it helped provide Microsoft with an infrastructure for Azure's cloud-based network. Acquiring PlayFab is a monumental step for Microsoft as PlayFab's experience will help strengthen Microsoft's cloud-based services which in turn, will expand Microsoft's market. Choudhry also mentioned in the statement that PlayFab is currently providing platform services to more than 1,200 games. PlayFab is working alongside companies like Disney, NBC Universal, Wizards of the Coast, Nickelodeon, Bandai Namco, Rovio, Capcom and Atari. It is also currently powering popular games including "Idle Miner Tycoon," "Angry Birds: Seasons," "Planetary Annihilation," "Killing Floor 2," "Loadout" and "Roller Coaster Tycoon Touch."

Meanwhile, a rumor about Microsoft looking at Electronic Arts (EA) Games as its next acquisition target started circulating. Microsoft has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.