Microsoft to start selling Xbox games on its Android app from November

The court’s ruling to open up Google´s mobile store in the US will allow more choice and flexibility. Our mission is to allow more players to play on more devices so we are thrilled to share that starting in November, players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly…

— BondSarahBond (@BondSarah_Bond) October 10, 2024

Why is Microsoft bringing Xbox games to its Android app now?

In the Epic Games vs Google trial, a US court judge ruled out that Google will have to open up the Play Store to allow third-party app stores and make its in-app purchase (IAP) mechanism optional for developers for three years.

While users will be able to buy new Xbox games directly from within the Android app, gamers won’t be able to run them natively but can use the Xbox Cloud Gaming features to run the games on the cloud and stream them to the device of their choice.

According to The Verge, which approached Microsoft for more details on the store changes, the company shared only Bond’s statement on X.

Both Apple and Google force developers to pay a hefty commission for in-app purchases. While nothing has changed for Apple outside of the European Union, Google has been forced to make the billing system optional. These changes might significantly dent the Play Store’s revenue stream.

Earlier this year in July, Microsoft announced that it would be launching its very own online mobile game store, which will host several games from various Microsoft-owned gaming studios.