Microsoft cannot launch Xbox retailer on Android, although it is able to go

Microsoft introduced its intention to launch an overhauled Xbox app on Android in November, permitting you to purchase and remotely play Xbox video games by way of your cellphone. We’ve reached the tip of November, and the brand new app isn’t right here but, so what offers?

Xbox president Sarah Bond introduced in a thread on Bluesky and X (h/t: IGN) that Microsoft is unable to launch these options following a “short-term administrative keep”:

Attributable to a brief administrative keep just lately granted by the courts, we’re at present unable to launch these options as deliberate. Our staff has the performance constructed and able to go dwell as quickly because the court docket makes a remaining choice.

Bond didn’t explicitly blame Google, however a US court docket just lately granted Google’s request for a brief keep after a court docket dominated that the Play Retailer must be opened up. The unique ruling referred to as for a wide range of modifications to be applied from November 1. These modifications included permitting different app shops to launch on the Play Retailer and letting builders use different billing programs.

It’s value noting that the PlayStation and Steam apps enable customers to purchase video games for these respective platforms. Sony and Valve ostensibly don’t want to make use of Google’s billing system or give Google a lower of those gross sales, both. So it’s unclear why the present Xbox app for Android doesn’t enable recreation purchases.

For what it’s value, Microsoft gives a subscription-based Xbox Cloud Gaming characteristic, permitting customers to remotely play each Recreation Move and owned titles. Nonetheless, Google’s phrases notice that apps that includes subscription providers require Play Retailer billing. In any occasion, the Xbox Cloud Gaming app is simply out there on the Galaxy Retailer for now.