Microsoft Will Start Selling Xbox Games On Android App Starting November, Here's What We Know

Although users will soon be able to purchase new Xbox games directly through the Android app, they won't be able to run them locally on their devices.

Gamers can utilise Xbox Cloud Gaming to play the games via cloud streaming on their preferred device.

Source : Unsplash/Diego Marin

Microsoft has announced that it will begin selling Xbox games on its Android app starting next month. This announcement comes on the heels of a US judge ruling that the Google Play store is an illegal monopoly.

Microsoft Xbox president Sarah Bond in a post on X said, “Court’s ruling to open up Google’s mobile store in the US will allow more choice and flexibility,” and that “starting in November, players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.”

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

But Why Now?

In the Epic Games vs. Google case, a US court has decided that Google must permit third-party app stores on the Play Store and give developers the option to bypass its in-app purchase (IAP) system for the next three years.

Although users will soon be able to purchase new Xbox games directly through the Android app, they won't be able to run them locally on their devices. Instead, gamers can utilise Xbox Cloud Gaming to play the games via cloud streaming on their preferred device.

Both Apple and Google impose substantial fees on developers for in-app purchases made through their platforms. Although Apple’s policies remain the same outside of the European Union, Google has now been compelled to offer developers the option to bypass its billing system. This move could potentially have a significant impact on the Play Store’s revenue, especially given its reliance on these fees.

In a related development, Microsoft revealed in July that it plans to launch its own mobile game store, expanding its presence in the gaming market. This store will feature a wide range of games from various Microsoft-owned studios, positioning the company as a direct competitor in the mobile gaming ecosystem.