Microsoft Postpones New Xbox App Features on Google Play Following Court Directive

Microsoft has been planning to roll out some exciting updates to its Xbox app for Android devices available on the Google Play Store by the end of 2024. However, it seems fans will need to wait until next year for those features to arrive.

Sarah Bond, the Xbox president, recently took to social media to explain the delay. Due to a legal stay imposed by U.S. courts, Microsoft has to hold off on allowing Xbox app users on Android to purchase and play games directly through the app. This development follows a previous announcement by Bond indicating that these features would debut in November right after Google was mandated to open its app store to third-party competitors earlier in October.

In her statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Bond expressed, “At Xbox, it’s about giving players more choice for where and how they play, including the option to play and buy games right from the Xbox app.” She further noted that the plan was to initiate these features first on the Google Play Store in the U.S. while other app stores adjust to what consumers want. “The temporary administrative stay has thrown a wrench in those plans,” she added. “However, our team is ready, and the new features will go live the moment the court issues a final decision. We are keen to offer our players more choice and flexibility.”

While this delay is a setback in Microsoft’s mission to integrate mobile gaming more deeply into the Xbox ecosystem, it doesn’t seem to be a major one. Bond’s description of the stay as temporary suggests business is still progressing smoothly. In recent months, there’s been increasing pressure on Google and Apple over their control of mobile stores, and services like Xbox Cloud Gaming through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate have proven popular for streaming on mobile.

On a related note, Xbox Cloud Gaming recently added a “Stream Your Own Game” feature, which allows users to stream 50 titles they have purchased, irrespective of whether these games are part of the Xbox Game Pass library. Microsoft plans to expand this feature, meaning more games will become available over time, offering even more choices to players.

Nonetheless, there’s more ahead for Microsoft and Xbox. The much-discussed Xbox handheld device is indeed on the horizon, yet it’s a few years away. Meanwhile, the launch of a mobile gaming store has been postponed, as Microsoft decides to conduct additional market research. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, mentioned the importance of creating “a way to find the store,” emphasizing the need for a marketable strategy that lures in customers. Microsoft is fully aware that simply building it won’t automatically attract users. Presently, Xbox Cloud Gaming isn’t always as reliable as NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and the Xbox Play Anywhere feature is still lacking the widespread cross-progression that users want, both areas Microsoft aims to tackle.

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Looking ahead to 2025, Microsoft and Xbox are riding a wave of momentum. Big-name releases like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the exclusive STALKER 2 have had strong launches, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle just about two weeks away. Not to forget, Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed is also on the horizon. This year has seen an influx of third-party games arriving on the platform, including some unexpected hits like Death Stranding, which used to be a PlayStation-exclusive for quite a spell.

Everyone hopes these wins lead to major service improvements and innovations as Microsoft pushes to bring Xbox games to “as many screens as possible.” Ultimately, the question remains open on how these efforts will materialize. But with the right approach, Microsoft holds ample opportunities to achieve remarkable success in the future. The imminent goal is to make Xbox games more universally accessible across a wide array of platforms, and here’s hoping that this temporary administrative roadblock is resolved swiftly.