... as Epic Games' Tim Sweeney also weighs in.
Microsoft has blamed a delay on the ability to purchase and directly play Xbox games on Android over a new legal issue, though Google has something to say on the matter.
First, Xbox head Sarah Bond took to social media to explain the delay in offering purchase and play functionality inside the Android’s Xbox app.
“At Xbox, we want to offer players more choice on how and where they play, including being able to play and buy games directly from the Xbox app,” Bond wrote on Bluesky. “I recently shared our ambition to unlock these features first with the Google Play Store on Android devices in the US while other app stores adapt to meet consumer demand.
“Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision. We are eager to launch and give more choice and flexibility to players.”
It appears that an appeal by Google on 16 October 2024 is what Bond is referring to. The appeal is against changes to Android’s Google Play Store ordered as a result of a long-running lawsuit between Google and Epic Games.
Speaking with Eurogamer, Google contradicted Bond’s statement.
“Microsoft has always been able to offer their Android users the ability to play and purchase Xbox games directly from their app – they’ve simply chosen not to,” a representative told the site. “The Court’s order, and rush to force its implementation, threaten Google Play’s ability to provide a safe and secure experience. Microsoft, like Epic, are ignoring these very real security concerns. We remain focused on supporting an ecosystem that works for everyone, not just two of the largest game companies.”
Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney also weighed in on the debate once the publisher was called out by Google.
“Google’s statement is deceitful,” Sweeney wrote on social media. “Shame on them. They well know that the 30 percent cut they demand is far more than all of the profit from game streaming. They know this because they blew hundreds of millions of dollars building the failed Stadia game business themselves.”
We’ll keep you informed as the situation progresses.
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