Microsoft announced in October that it would start selling Xbox games through its app on Android devices in November. However, this has not yet come to fruition. Xbox president Sarah Bond took to social media to blame Google for the delay. This is due to the fact that all purchases on Android devices must go through Google’s payment system, which takes a 30 percent fee. Epic Games previously won a lawsuit against Google, arguing that this practice was anti-competitive. Despite the court ruling in favor of Epic Games, Google has appealed, leading to an administrative stay that prevents the change from taking effect.
Bond explained on BlueSky that Microsoft has the functionality ready to launch but is awaiting approval from the court. This delay is ironic given Microsoft’s recent ad campaign promoting Xbox cloud gaming on any device. While Xbox games can still be played on Android phones via the browser, Microsoft is aiming to create a contained system within its app for purchasing and playing games.
Google has defended its 30 percent fee by citing security concerns and the need to prevent abuse on its Play Store. However, Microsoft and Epic Games argue that this fee is unnecessary. Interestingly, Sony and Valve allow game purchases through their respective apps, but do not allow gameplay within the app. It is unclear whether they are paying the 30 percent fee or avoiding it by using web pages for payments.
Overall, the delay in selling Xbox games on the Google Play Store highlights the ongoing debate around app store fees and competition in the digital marketplace. Microsoft is eager to provide a seamless experience for gamers on Android devices, but legal challenges and disputes with Google continue to hinder their plans. The outcome of this situation will have implications for how digital goods are bought and sold on mobile platforms in the future.
