Xbox Players Will Soon Be Able to Purchase Games Through the Android Xbox App

Starting in November, players will be able to purchase games directly through the app.

Xbox Arrives on Android in November

In November, Xbox players will not only be able to play games but also purchase games directly through the Xbox app on Android, announced Sarah Bond, head of Xbox at Microsoft. She highlighted a recent court decision requiring Google to open its mobile store in the US, which she said would “allow for more choice and flexibility.”

Court Verdict: A Game Changer for Developers

This statement follows a ruling by US Judge James Donato in the four-year antitrust battle between Google and Epic Games. The judge issued a permanent injunction forcing Google to allow access to its Play library to third-party app stores and to make Android apps available on other platforms.

The Judgment: A Windfall for Microsoft

As CNBC notes, players can download games to their Xbox through the Android app and stream games on their phones with Game Pass Ultimate. Previously, they could not purchase games directly from the app. Following the court’s decision, Google can no longer require developers to use its billing system nor prevent them from offering more affordable payment options. Microsoft will be able to sell titles without paying a commission to Google, a likely reason why Xbox had not previously sold games through its Android app.

A Prolonged Legal Battle

The Epic versus Google lawsuit has been ongoing for years. In 2023, a federal jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff, finding Google held an illegal monopoly over app distribution and integrated billing services on Android devices. When Judge Donato delivered his verdict, Google informed Engadget that it would appeal the decision, arguing that it “fails to recognize that Android is an open platform and developers have always had many options to distribute their apps.”