In a recent development surrounding the ongoing legal tussle between Xbox and Google, the two companies have presented contrasting narratives regarding Xbox’s ability to sell and launch games via its Android app. This situation follows a significant ruling issued by a US judge in October, which mandated that Google must open its Android marketplace to competitors. This ruling was intended to take effect this month, prohibiting Google from blocking the distribution of third-party Android app stores through its Google Play platform.
Conflicting Perspectives on Game Distribution
At the time of the ruling, Xbox’s head of gaming, Phil Spencer, expressed optimism that players would soon be able to purchase and play Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android devices. However, a recent post by Spencer on Bluesky has revealed a more complicated reality. He indicated that while Xbox is prepared to roll out these new features, they are currently hindered by an emergency stay requested by Google. This stay effectively pauses the implementation of the ruling, allowing Google to appeal the decision, which it argues could jeopardize the safety and trustworthiness of the Google Play experience.
In his statement, Spencer emphasized Xbox’s commitment to enhancing player choice, stating, “At Xbox, we want to offer players more choice on how and where they play, including being able to play and buy games directly from the Xbox app.” He further noted that the functionality for these features is ready and waiting for the court’s final decision to proceed.
Contrastingly, Google has responded to Spencer’s claims with a statement that suggests Xbox has always had the option to enable these features but has chosen not to do so. Google spokesperson Dan Jackson remarked, “Microsoft has always been able to offer their Android users the ability to play and purchase Xbox games directly from their app – they’ve simply chosen not to.” He also highlighted concerns regarding security, asserting that the rush to implement the court’s order could undermine the safety of the Google Play ecosystem.
The October ruling represents a pivotal moment in the broader context of Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit against Google. It outlines several key restrictions on Google’s practices over the next three years, including:
- Prohibiting Google from paying developers to launch apps exclusively through the Play Store.
- Preventing Google from incentivizing manufacturers or carriers to pre-install Google Play while excluding rival stores.
- Disallowing Google from forcing app developers to use its billing system.
- Restricting Google from dictating app pricing based on the use of Google Play.
- Allowing developers to direct users to external payment options outside of the Play Store.
As the situation unfolds, Xbox has been vocal about its aspirations to establish a mobile app store, with Spencer noting last year that preparations were already underway for a future where such a venture could be legally viable. The ongoing dialogue between Xbox and Google reflects the complexities of navigating competition and consumer choice in the evolving landscape of mobile gaming.
