What you need to know
- Microsoft recently integrated its Xbox app with the Xbox Game Pass app, with the former gaining most of the latter’s now deprecated features.
- Following a court ruling forcing Google to open a U.S. mobile storefront, Xbox President Sarah Bond confirmed that Xbox App users will now be able to buy and play games through Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android.
- These new features are expected to roll out sometime in November 2024.
Big changes are coming for Xbox users on Android.
Starting in November, Xbox App users on Android devices will be able to purchase and play games through Xbox Cloud Gaming, as Xbox President Sarah Bond shared via Threads on Thursday. This comes shortly after Google received a court order to open a mobile storefront in the US, with the changes effective November 1, 2024.
“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,” Bond said.
This comes as Microsoft recently merged the Xbox and Xbox Game Pass apps, with the former gaining most of the features of the latter. The Xbox Game Pass app has been deprecated and Xbox Cloud Gaming has now been moved to Xbox.com/play.
Game purchasing and streaming support was added to the Xbox app on Android devices in November, allowing players to instantly purchase and play games through Xbox Cloud Games, a feature long promised to Xbox players. It will come true.
Xbox Cloud Gaming is mostly exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the top of Microsoft’s subscription service, which also gives you access to new first-party games from day one.
Xbox has big plans for mobile
After acquiring Activision Blizzard King in 2023, Microsoft Gaming executives have repeatedly supported plans to create an Xbox mobile store. Earlier this year, Bond hinted that the store would open in July 2024, but as of October, the store is still unavailable. However, players discovered the store’s web page.
Microsoft currently plans to launch the Xbox Mobile Store with first-party franchises like Mojang’s Minecraft and King’s Candy Crush, but Bond said the store will expand over time to third-party games from various partners. It has also been suggested that it will be opened to the public.
