In October, Microsoft announced its plans to begin selling Xbox games directly through its Android app in November. However, this rollout has yet to happen, and Xbox president Sarah Bond has pointed the finger at Google for the delay.
The issue stems from the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Google, which has had far-reaching consequences for the mobile ecosystem. Epic won a significant victory in its lawsuit against Google, arguing that Google’s policy of requiring all in-app purchases on Android devices to go through its payment system and taking a 30% cut, was anti-competitive.
This victory was based on the notion that Google’s dominant position in the market harmed competition, and Epic’s goal was to bypass Google’s payment system. Following the ruling, Google was expected to allow alternative payment methods on its devices without taking a share.
However, despite this legal win, the changes have yet to be implemented. The ruling was appealed by Google, and a temporary “administrative stay” has been granted, halting the enforcement of the changes until the appeal is resolved. This legal roadblock has left Microsoft unable to move forward with its planned game sales on Android.
Sarah Bond explained the delay on social media, stating that Microsoft had already built the necessary functionality to launch the feature. However, they are now waiting for the courts to lift the administrative stay and allow them to proceed. Microsoft had hoped to sell Xbox games directly through the Google Play Store in the U.S., but this is currently impossible due to the ongoing legal uncertainty. Bond’s post highlights the frustration of having the system ready but being unable to deploy it due to external legal hurdles.
The situation adds an element of irony, given Microsoft’s recent “This is an Xbox” advertising campaign, which promotes the idea that any device can be an Xbox through game streaming. While this is true through web-based streaming on Android, Microsoft’s goal is to create a more integrated system where users can buy games and play them within the same app. The delay in allowing in-app purchases to be processed outside of Google’s system hampers this vision, as it prevents a seamless purchasing experience for Android users.
Google, for its part, has defended its 30% fee, arguing that it is necessary to maintain security within the Play Store. Google claims that by requiring payments to go through its system, it ensures that bad actors cannot exploit the platform.
Microsoft’s stance, like Epic’s, ignores these concerns, according to Google. Additionally, there is confusion surrounding the practices of other companies like Sony and Steam, which also allow in-app game purchases but may be bypassing the 30% fee in various ways. Despite the ambiguity, Microsoft has made it clear that it does not plan to adopt a similar approach anytime soon.
