Now, here’s an interesting development. Microsoft plans to update the Xbox app on Android devices next month to allow users in the United States to buy and play Xbox games on their mobile devices.
This follows a US court ruling this week suspending Google Play Billing’s requirement for app purchases on the Play Store. This will come into effect from early next month November 1, 2024 (Thank you, The Verge).
Xbox president Sarah Bond shared a message about this on social media, reminding followers of Xbox’s mission to “help more players play on more devices.”
“The court’s decision to open Google’s mobile store in the U.S. gives us more choice and flexibility. Our mission is to help more players play on more devices. So starting in November, players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox app on Android.
As The Verge further explained, “Google’s Android app store is an illegal monopoly, and the search giant has been ordered to open its Play Store to competition for three years.” As we’ve already highlighted, we can no longer force developers to use Google Play Billing.
This also means Microsoft will be able to leverage its cloud capabilities to “freely sell Xbox games on Android devices,” allowing users to stream and play them after purchase.
