Microsoft has told Stevivor why Store functionality — specifically, “purchase capabilities” — were removed from the Xbox app on both iOS and Android.
As we suspected, it’s all to do with rules governing in-app purchases inside the Apple and Google ecosystems. Or, to be blunt, it’s far more likely to do with the action inside the iOS operating system — the same reason why an xCloud Game Streaming app isn’t available on Apple smartphones or tablets as yet.
“In order to bring console remote play to the Xbox app for Android and iOS, we have removed purchase capabilities,” a Microsoft representative told Stevivor.
Related: The new Xbox mobile app is great but missing Achievements & Store
As we’ve also detailed, “you can still easily search for and start downloading any game from the Xbox catalog, right from the app, so it’s ready to play when you get back to your console,” the representative continued. “Then, if you choose to buy it, you can do that when you’re back on your console before playing.”
The new Xbox app is available on both iOS and Android. The Windows PC version of the app supports Store functionality including game purchases and the ability to redeem a code.
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