Final month, Microsoft announced that, because of a latest ruling, it will permit individuals purchase and play Xbox video games immediately from the Xbox App on Android beginning in November. However, as we attain the top of the month, it appears to be like like these plans must wait a bit.
Xbox President Sarah Bond introduced on X/Twitter on Wednesday that “a brief administrative keep lately granted by the courts” has delayed the performance. Nonetheless, Bond added that they are able to launch with the function as quickly as they’ve the authorized go-ahead.
At Xbox, we need to supply gamers extra selection on how and the place they play, together with having the ability to play and purchase video games immediately from the Xbox app. I lately shared our ambition to unlock these options first with the Google Play Retailer on Android gadgets within the U.S. whereas different app…
— BondSarahBond (@BondSarah_Bond) November 27, 2024
“At Xbox, we need to supply gamers extra selection on how and the place they play, together with having the ability to play and purchase video games immediately from the Xbox app,” Bond wrote. “I lately shared our ambition to unlock these options first with the Google Play Retailer on Android gadgets within the U.S. whereas different app shops adapt to fulfill shopper demand.”
“Attributable to a brief administrative keep lately granted by the courts, we’re at the moment unable to launch these options as deliberate,” she continued. “Our group has the performance constructed and able to go reside as quickly because the court docket makes a remaining resolution. We’re wanting to launch and provides extra selection and suppleness to gamers.”
Microsoft introduced its plans following a latest resolution by a U.S. judge that forces Google to open up its Play Store to competitors for three years. Per the ruling — the most recent victory in Epic Video games’ long-running antitrust battle in opposition to Google — Google could have carry third-party Android app shops within the Play Retailer and grant third-party app shops full entry to Google Play’s catalogue of apps. Google, nevertheless, vowed to enchantment the choice in a subsequent blog post.
For Microsoft, the ruling meant that, in idea, it will free to promote Xbox video games on Android gadgets and permit them to be streamed as quickly as they’re bought from inside the similar app with out having to make use of Google Play Billing. Nevertheless, it is at the moment unclear what this court docket order will imply for Microsoft’s plans past simply delaying them.
The flexibility to increase buying to the Google Play Retailer was solely one among Microsoft’s latest strikes to develop Xbox’s footprint within the cellular area. In May, Bond introduced that Microsoft was planning to launch its personal cellular sport retailer in July, though that is been delayed. Within the wake of Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which owns Sweet Crush maker King, the corporate actually has extra firepower to carry to the cellular panorama.
Alex Stedman is a Senior Information Editor with IGN, overseeing leisure reporting. When she’s not writing or enhancing, you’ll find her studying fantasy novels or taking part in Dungeons & Dragons.
