A US judge has ordered Google to make its app store for the Android ecosystem, the Play Store, much more open. For the magistrate, Google Play Store is a monopoly, the company could therefore be forced to provide free access to any app store developed by third parties.
Microsoft took the opportunity to speak out on the subject: the head of the Xbox division announced that its platform will sell games directly through the Xbox app for Android, which was not possible until now. This, regardless of the Google Play Store payment system, which represents a first important consequence after the judge’s decision in the Epic Games against Google case.
Game purchases will be available directly in the Xbox app for Android
Google Play Store will change its operation, according to orders from Judge James Donato in his final decision for the Epic Games case against Google. The judge’s orders mention that Google will not be able to force developers to use the company’s payment system, nor prohibit the use of alternative payment methods within the Play Store, among other massive changes for the platform. Google, for its part, assures that it will appeal this judge’s decision.
Sarah Bond, president of the Xbox division at Microsoft, announced via a post on her X/Twitter account that her company will begin selling games through the Xbox app for Android. from next November
Posted by Sarah Bond on X/Twitter. (Click on the image to access the publication)
Until now, to buy an Xbox game from an Android smartphone or tablet, you had to do it from the official Xbox website, since this option is not available in the application. It is unclear why purchasing games through the app is currently not available, but it is important to mention that so far purchases through the Play Store using its payment system involve a commission of 30 % for Google.
Microsoft is also working on its own games and content store for Android and for iOSwhich was initially supposed to be available mid-year but its launch was delayed.
Cover photo | Alejandro Alcolea for Xataka Android
By | Edge – GSMArena
In Xataka Android | The best Android games of 2024…so far
In Xataka Android | Your old Android mobile can become your new home console: here’s how to do it
