Xbox Storefront on Android Delayed
In a thread on X rival Bluesky Thursday, Xbox president Sarah Bond said Microsoft was unable to roll out features that would allow Android users to buy and play games directly from the Xbox app due to a court’s stay on the Play Store overhaul order. Bond expressed Microsoft’s desire to offer players more choice on how and where they play, emphasizing the company’s ambition to unlock these features first with the Google Play Store on Android devices in the U.S. Unfortunately, due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, the launch of these features has been delayed. Bond assured that the functionality is ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision.
Bond reiterated Microsoft’s eagerness to launch the Xbox app and provide more choice and flexibility to players. In October, a US court had ordered Google to overhaul its Play Store policies, allowing Android users to buy and download apps from other marketplaces. Bond had previously announced that Android users would be able to buy and play games from the Xbox app on the platform starting in November.
Court Ruling on Google’s Play Store
The Xbox mobile marketplace has become a focal point in the ongoing antitrust battle surrounding Apple and Google’s strict mobile app storefront policies. Epic Games had filed antitrust lawsuits against both companies over rules that impose a commission on every purchase and restrict alternative storefronts.
Following the court order in October, Google was directed to revamp the Play Store to enable Android users to access alternative storefronts for app downloads and transactions. However, Google was granted a temporary stay on the order after raising concerns about potential safety, security, and privacy risks in the Android ecosystem.
In March 2023, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer had announced plans to launch an app store for Xbox games and third-party content on iOS and Android. Initially expected to go live by March 2024, Spencer later hinted at a potential earlier launch, stating that discussions with third-party partners were ongoing to provide more options for monetization on mobile devices.