Social and mobile developer Arkadium has announced a multi-year, multi-game partnership with Microsoft, to create games for its Windows PC, smartphone, and tablet markets. The studio has created a variety of Facebook, mobile, and downloadable games in the last two years, and has worked closely with Microsoft on games for MSN, Bing, and Microsoft Messenger.

Venture Beat reports that the company plans to devote 40-50% of its 120-person studio to Microsoft's platforms. The company will still develop for non-Microsoft platforms like the iPhone or Facebook, but those games developed as part of the deal will be exclusive to Microsoft platforms. The studio feels that the less crowded Windows Phone market affords them more opportunity to stand out.

"We are very excited to be working with Microsoft Studios to develop casual and social cross-platform experiences," said Arkadium CEO Kenny Rosenblatt in the announcement. "We have been looking to strategically partner with a company that can help catapult our business and accelerate Arkadium's cross platform game development. Microsoft is the perfect partner to help us realize our growth strategy."