In October, Microsoft revealed that Xbox games would soon be available for purchase directly through the Xbox app on Android. However, a recent court ruling has put these plans on hold.
Xbox president Sarah Bond disclosed that a 'temporary administrative stay' was granted by a US judge, preventing Microsoft from rolling out this new feature, despite it being fully prepared. 'Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision,' Bond stated.
This delay is a consequence of the Epic v. Google case decision earlier in 2024, where a judge mandated that Google must allow rival third-party app stores within Google Play. Epic's Tim Sweeney led this initiative as part of his ongoing dispute with Google and its business practices. Google, in response, announced its intention to appeal, successfully convincing a judge to delay the ruling.
Epic, the creator of the widely popular Fortnite, argued that Google made it challenging for any competing store within Google Play to thrive. For Microsoft, this means the ability to sell games directly to consumers via its own store within the Xbox app, avoiding Google's fees.
Beyond selling games within the Xbox app for Android, Microsoft plans to launch its own mobile game store in the future. Microsoft is now positioning Xbox as a universal term for any device with Game Pass, aiming to increase subscribers and generate a steady revenue stream. With the recent layoffs at Xbox, Spencer justified the cuts, attributing them to the demands of capitalism.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
