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After a US court ruling against Google, Microsoft allows Xbox games to be purchased directly and played in Android apps

After a US court ruling against Google, Microsoft allows Xbox games to be purchased directly and played in Android apps





October 11, 2024 – 3:30 p.m



After a US court ruling against Google, Microsoft allows Xbox games to be purchased directly and played in Android appsAfter a US court ruling against Google, Microsoft allows Xbox games to be purchased directly and played in Android apps







Microsoft has announced plans to allow users to purchase and play Xbox games directly from the Xbox app on Android devices starting in November. This decision follows a crucial ruling in the US that favors Fortnite developer Epic Games in its legal battle against Google. The court’s decision requires Google to open its Play Store to third-party app stores for three years. Therefore, Google is now obliged to offer external app stores in the Play Store and give them full access to its app catalog.

For Microsoft, this ruling opens the door to selling Xbox games directly on Android, bypassing Google’s Play Store billing system. This means players can purchase and stream Xbox games from the same app, making for a more seamless gaming experience. In a tweet, Xbox President Sarah Bond shared her excitement about the matter, saying: “The court’s decision to open Google’s mobile store in the US will allow for more choice and flexibility.” Our goal is to bring more gamers to enable gaming on more devices. That’s why we’re excited to announce that starting in November, players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox app on Android.”

In a related development, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that the Epic Games Store will be available on the Google Play Store by 2025. He emphasized that this would happen without Google’s “scare screens” and the 30 percent commission that the platform normally charges. The reason given for the change is the victory in the legal dispute.

However, Google plans to appeal the ruling. The company expressed concerns about the impact on consumer privacy and security, arguing that these changes could reduce competition and make it harder for developers to promote their apps. Google is seeking to suspend Epic’s proposed changes during the appeal period.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is developing its own browser-based Xbox Mobile Store to compete with both Google Play and the App Store. Microsoft’s recent $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the parent company of Candy Crush maker King, was driven in part by a desire to expand its mobile gaming offerings ahead of the store’s opening.









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