Microsoft preparing move into social gaming with new Arkadium deal

Microsoft looks like it's preparing to step into the social gaming ring after finalising a 'multi-year, multi-game partnership' to publish titles from social and casual game developer Arkadium.

The New York-based company boasts a catalogue that pulls in over 10 million users a month via Facebook and other social gaming outlets, and claims to have the world's biggest library of Flash games.

Arkadium plans to devote 40-50 per cent of its 120-person workforce to develop titles for Windows.

"Arkadium has a ten-year track record of developing entertaining and well-architected casual and social games," Microsoft Studios's Matt Booty said.

"Our team is excited to be partnering with a developer that we believe will help us entertain millions of people as we expand our reach to a broader audience."

It's not yet clear which platforms will be the first to benefit from the new publishing deal, but we'd be surprised if it didn't include at least Facebook and either Windows Phone 7 or the upcoming desktop / tablet OS, Windows 8.