The Delay in Selling Games on Xbox App for Android
Microsoft has announced that the ability to sell games in its Xbox app on Android is ‘ready to go live.’ However, the company has not provided specific details on the reason for the delay.
A few weeks ago, Microsoft executive Sarah Bond mentioned that players would soon be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android. Despite the initial timeline set for November, the feature has not yet been launched. Bond attributes the delay to external factors beyond Microsoft’s control.
The issue stems from a court order that mandates significant changes to Google’s Play Store on Android, including opening it up to competition and eliminating the requirement for apps to use Google Play Billing. Judge James Donato granted Google’s request for a stay on October 18th, pending an appeal of his ruling that deemed the Android app store an illegal monopoly.
In a recent statement, Bond explained, “Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision.”
While Microsoft has been strategizing its mobile app store approach for years, the delay in offering Xbox game purchases on Android has left gamers frustrated. The company has not disclosed the specific impediments preventing it from providing this service, similar to what Steam and PlayStation already offer. Additionally, there is no update on the status of its browser-based mobile store, which continues to display a ‘coming soon’ message.
