Microsoft's Xbox Game Store on Android Delayed by Court Rulings

Microsoft's Xbox App Update Delay Explained

A few weeks ago, Sarah Bond, a Microsoft executive, shared exciting news regarding the Xbox App on Android. She announced that players would soon have the ability to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the app. However, as December approaches, this feature remains unavailable.

Legal Hurdles for Xbox Game Purchases

According to Bond, the delay is not due to Microsoft’s readiness but rather a legal situation affecting the implementation of the feature. The crux of the issue lies in a court order that would mandate significant changes to Google’s Play Store operations.

On October 18th, Judge James Donato ruled in favor of Google, granting a temporary stay on a decision stating that the Play Store operates as an illegal monopoly. This ruling is crucial because it determines the conditions under which Microsoft can open up its app functionalities.

The Impact of Legal Decisions on Game Access

Bond referenced this ongoing legal battle in a recent thread on Bluesky, stating, “Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision.” This suggests that the functionality for game purchases is complete on their end, but external factors are holding up the launch.

Microsoft's Vision for Mobile Gaming

Microsoft has been strategizing its mobile app store for several years now. Despite the frustration from gamers, the company has yet to clarify the specific barriers preventing them from offering Xbox game purchases, akin to the established platforms like Steam and PlayStation. Moreover, there has been no update on the status of their browser-based mobile store, which still displays a “coming soon” message since August.

Conclusion

The gaming community is eagerly awaiting further developments, and while Microsoft’s plans are in place, the timing of their rollout hinges on pending court decisions regarding the legal framework governing app stores on Android. As the situation evolves, gamers hope to soon see Xbox titles available directly through their mobile devices.