Introduction

In an exciting announcement a few weeks back, Microsoft executive Sarah Bond revealed that players would soon be able to purchase and play Xbox games directly through the Xbox App on Android. However, as we approach December, that much-anticipated feature is still not live, and the company claims it’s not due to their own shortcomings.

Legal Hurdles

According to Bond, the major roadblock lies in a court order that must be enacted to enforce significant changes to Google’s Play Store. These changes would involve fostering competition and eliminating the requirement for apps to rely solely on Google Play Billing.

Recent Developments

A pivotal setback occurred on October 18, when Judge James Donato granted Google a temporary stay while it appeals his earlier ruling deeming the Android app store an illegal monopoly. This legal tangle leaves Microsoft’s plans in limbo, with no immediate resolution in sight. Bond took to social media platform Bluesky to explain the situation: “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.”

Google's Response

Following the article’s publication, a spokesperson for Google, Dan Jackson, reiterated the company's long-held stance. He stated, “Microsoft has always been able to offer their Android users the ability to play and purchase Xbox games directly from their app – they’ve simply chosen not to. The Court’s order, and rush to force its implementation, threaten Google Play’s ability to provide a safe and secure experience. Microsoft, like Epic, are ignoring these very real security concerns.”

Microsoft's Ongoing Challenges

Despite these obstacles, Microsoft has been working on its mobile app store strategy for several years. Nevertheless, it remains unclear why the company hasn’t yet launched Xbox game purchases on par with competitors like Steam and PlayStation, especially given their integration with Xbox Cloud Gaming. Moreover, there has been no recent update on the status of Microsoft’s browser-based mobile store, which continues to display a “coming soon” notice, leaving eager gamers in suspense.

Conclusion

As the battle between Microsoft and Google unfolds, players are left wondering when they will finally get the Xbox game store they’ve been promised, and whether this legal chess match is merely the tip of the iceberg in the ongoing struggle for dominance in the gaming industry. Stay tuned, gamers—this story is far from over!