Summary
XboxPresident Sarah Bond has claimed that a stay in the rulings of the Epic vs. Google lawsuit delayed the original timeline for enabling game purchases directly via the Xbox app. Last month, theXboxchief announced this feature was planned to roll out for Android users in November.
Back in October, the outcome ofEpic Games’s antitrust lawsuit against Googleresulted in the Android owner being required to implement an array of changes to encourage fair competition. A major highlight among the court’s rulings involves Google being required to allow third-party app markets on its Play Store—starting July 02, 2025—for a period of three years. In the aftermath of this decision, Bond had chipped in to announce the arrival of game purchases on Xbox’s Android app in the following month. However, with the original launch window for this feature nearing its end, the Xbox chief has now shared the reason for the no-show.
OnBluesky, Bond revealed that Xbox’s temporary inability to roll outgame purchases for Android userswas down to a recent “administrative stay,” given by the court to Google. She continued that the work on the console giant’s end was already done, saying that the feature was “ready to go live” and that the court’s “final decision” regarding the latest rulings was awaited. Underlining the Microsoft-owned firm’s supposed excitement, the Xbox head shared that the team was keen to bring “more choice and flexibility” for players. Interestingly, Google, on the other hand, has reportedly dismissed the presence of any such hurdle.
Xbox Claims New Court Decision Delayed Android App Update, While Google Denies the Same
Despite Xbox holding the latest court instruction responsible for the postponement of its initial plan, Google has denied this claim, as perThe Verge. Reiterating its previous statement, the search engine giant reportedly said that Xbox has always been in a position to offer game purchases directly through its Android app and that the console giant has “simply chosen not to” do so. Google’s comment noted that the new changes required by the court hamper the ability to provide a “safe and secure experience” forPlay Store users. Further, the Sundar Pichai-led company called out Microsoft and Epic Games for looking over these “real security concerns.”
Given that major gaming firms PlayStation and Steam have offered direct purchases via their respective Android apps for a long time, it seems almost peculiar that Xbox hasn’t been able to offer the same functionality. As for Epic Games, itslegal faceoff with Google is set to continuebut on a different matter that also concerns Samsung.
