Microsoft plans to integrate several key features into the Xbox App for Android users in the United States. Gamers will be able to purchase games directly through the mobile app, bypassing Google Play, and launch them via streaming.
To clarify, until this point, the mobile version of the Xbox cloud service was in beta testing and only accessible via a browser.
According to Xbox President Sarah Bond, the company was ready to release updates, but the legal battle between Epic Games and Google forced a temporary delay. "Everything is ready for launch, but due to a court injunction, we cannot activate the features yet," the executive stated on Bluesky.
Let's recall, in October, a U.S. court declared Google a monopoly in the Android app market. Among the key directives: the corporation was ordered to allow competing app stores access to the Google Play library and to remove the requirement to use only their payment system.
At that time, Google filed an appeal, and the court's decision was postponed, which became a barrier for Xbox.
Google has already responded to Bond's statement. In a comment to Eurogamer, a company representative suggested that Microsoft could have added these features earlier but "simply chose not to."
The corporation is also concerned that rushing to meet court obligations could jeopardize Google Play's security. "Microsoft and Epic ignore real security concerns. We remain focused on supporting an ecosystem that benefits everyone, not just the two largest gaming companies," stated Google.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney did not stay silent. He called Google's words a "disgraceful lie," once again highlighting the real reason behind the restrictions. It's simple: Google's 30% commission makes streaming gaming unprofitable on mobile devices. "Google knows this perfectly well, having spent hundreds of millions on the failed Google Stadia project," Sweeney remarked.
It's worth noting that these developments for the Xbox app are happening simultaneously with Microsoft's work on its own mobile game store. It remains unknown when the store will finally be launched. The reason is the same—ongoing legal battles with Apple and Google in various countries.