Microsoft says its plans to let customers purchase and play video games immediately by way of the Xbox app on Android are being held up by a brand new authorized concern.
Writing on social media, Xbox chief Sarah Bond blamed the hold-up on “a short lived administrative keep just lately granted by the courts”.
Microsoft had previously said it would launch the functionality earlier than the top of the month.
“At Xbox, we wish to supply gamers extra alternative on how and the place they play, together with with the ability to play and purchase video games immediately from the Xbox app,” Bond wrote. “I just lately shared our ambition to unlock these options first with the Google Play Retailer on Android gadgets within the US whereas different app shops adapt to fulfill shopper demand.
“Attributable to a short lived administrative keep just lately granted by the courts, we’re presently unable to launch these options as deliberate. Our crew has the performance constructed and able to go stay as quickly because the court docket makes a ultimate determination. We’re desirous to launch and provides extra alternative and suppleness to gamers.”
The authorized concern in query seems to be Google’s 16th October appeal towards changes to Android and its Google Play store ordered as a result of the Google vs Epic Games lawsuit.
Epic Video games efficiently argued that Google operated an unlawful monopoly by way of its smartphone app retailer. Final month, a decide dominated that Google would now have to permit third-party storefront apps within the US subsequent yr apart from the Google Play Retailer, and that Android customers be capable to pay by way of alternate means, reasonably than simply Google Play Billing.
Google mentioned it might attraction the choice because it appeared to contradict the ruling of Epic’s less-successful Apple trial, that as a result of Apple existed it didn’t have a monopoly, and since the adjustments would make Android much less protected and safe for customers.
Eurogamer has contacted Google for extra.
Individually, Microsoft is also working on its own web-based Xbox mobile game store, which was set to launch in the summertime. In August the corporate acknowledged testing had begun, however it’s nonetheless unclear when it’s going to correctly launch.
