Xbox To Start Selling Games 'Directly' On Android App Next Month (US)

But I could buy ps games from the PS app on android for years. So how comes playstation could do it?

@CutchuSlow to play those games directly on the android phone without a connected console?

@CutchuSlow I think they pay Google to do that. I remember reading a while back Xbox didnt agree with this practice and was looking for a way to change it, and now they have. I hope the option comes to Europe soon.

@BIG3 Europe have already sorted the payment issue with the Digital Market Act. Which Google is named gatekeeper. As that's how Microsoft, Epic are planning to opening app stores on both IOS & Android.

Here's hoping Apple is next, same as in the EU, and other countries will follow.

It feels good to have governments finally care about monopolies after decades of not doing anything and letting a half dozen companies control the internet and mobile market.

Now can we finally get some ports of old Windows Phone titles that have been lost to the ether? Id quite happily like Hexic and Spartan Assault back please with full achievement support.

@CutchuSlow According to another answer I've seen it's that Playstation (and Steam which does too) have a separate app for remote play. So you can't buy and play Playstation and Steam games through the same app which skirts the Google play and apple guidelines that force them to use their api and billing (as in it avoids the 30% cut). Xbox couldn't because they put remote play in the standard Xbox app and they really can't if they add cloud gaming to that app. The idea being that you're not supposed to "buy and play" without going through Google or Apple.

That said I don't really have confirmation there. It's also possible Sony and Valve cut a deal with Google and Apple or just deal with the cut, and Microsoft wasn't willing to do either. Regardless there were stipulations or guidelines before that there aren't now (at least on Android in the US).

The Xbox mobile app is becoming a great singular app actually. Now I just need cloud gaming and Xbox Wire integration (like actual blog posts would be nice and not the weird stories they try to do; Xbox wire gets good interviews, make them easier to read).

It'll be interesting if once the mobile game store actually happens, the Xbox app on android feels more akin to the app on Windows (as in it in of itself becomes an Xbox platform).

@cragis0001 Right, I have mentioned previously how that was illegal, at least in this part of the world, but I'm happy that it is in USA, too. Apple will have to follow. In EU, Apple has been forced already, although they want to charge developers a greedy fee, so I hope that the fees are regulated too, otherwise they're a way to circumvent regulations.

@WildConcept6 Some users were assuming that Microsoft would try to open a store to rival Google and made fun of it. What they didn't realise is that it could be part of the same Xbox app. Microsoft have already merged the two apps they had. In any case, this benefits consumers and should be celebrated, whether it's Microsoft or Sony.

Why only in the USA though?

Good news. It never benefits consumers when a handful of big players have all the control. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
As for Xbox, I'd still like to see it improve their streaming experience, it should be best of the bunch, and these improvements should go hand in hand with opening up the space to be more available to more people.

@FraserG 'The messaging from Sarah is a bit vague..'
This stands alone as a true statement no matter what we are discussing! 🤣

Here it is, the future of Xbox, mobile games. This is what they spent 70 billion on.

@FraserG Cheers. Not like Xbox to be vague with messaging!

Good Phil promised me I could play games I own via cloud this year. We are running out of year.

Glad to see progress in getting rid of mobile store monopolies.

It is ridiculous that apple and google put a 30% tax on people simply to declare purchasing of an app is safe.

@NeoRatt The amusing thing is, certainly in googles case, you've no way of knowing if its safe and many items on the store are certainly not safe.... The 30% tax is just to line their pockets.

The elephant in the room is what's different about mobile phone stores and console stores? How much longer will playstation,xbox, and Nintendo be able to force publishers into their taxed storefront?

It seems xbox has been anticipating this reality and might be the real reasoning behind abk and bethesda purchases.

When you're in love with a beautiful woman?

Cool benefit but I do think the messaging needs to be good. If in an app then sure but if on Google Play they NEED people to know it's for cloud and like with other things a license NOT a port to Android or iPhone. People will blindly do that we all know someone will.

I don't hate the play anywhere but it has it's limits, the console is still worth it or PC if people prefer it.

US is a fair start then whenever the other role outs are able to happen. Whatever insiders can test as well.

I'm happy with the console, if people have them on PC go for it, don't care for the biggest games, I don't use Gamepass even though I see benefits in it for sure.

Whether Steam, Epic, GOG, their own? The third parties do the same to any platform they can so why not a console maker? Who says it can't be done it can.

We may or may not like multiple as it can change the rate we see games. Those wanting the walled off to validate their purchase as well, sure.

I see reason in it but it doesn't change anything other then rate of games coming out unless another studio does the porting then it makes some sense. But if the games aren't for me anyway then well I'm not missing out but someone else is getting to play a game they always wanted to and by all means that's great they get to experience it however they want.

I mean I enjoy the Nintendo regular or controller gimmicks input methods, it's no accessibility (understandable it being a thing for sure visual, motor or otherwise) but I mean I like controller gimmicks if the games aren't going to be 'that exciting' and I'm having more fun with older games controller gimmicks/peripherals or not but more interesting game design then modern games where unless the controller gimmicks or something of an exciting mechanic I have no interest in modern games at all no matter their stories/themes/setting, something PS/Xbox controller gimmicks have been fun when they offer them in games (yes Xbox One impulse triggers in the what Gears/Forza Motorsport/Project Cars games I've experienced it in).

I'm sticking to console, I don't even care whether PC has the better features or whatever inputs on Steam or other stuff I don't even use keyboard and mouse on any console I see it being beneficial but eh if interested of a controller keyboard then sure or some games it has a place but eh still fine with whatever CD app, music app or blu-ray support I can have besides back compat on console I don't care for most if any modern games really right now (only certain people go Windows store, Xbox app on PC sure but Windows store...... only for specific things not games and yes Xbox/Windows stores are connected I know that, whether 2 purchases or 1 for both I forget).

They want money from all sides it's understandable they expand it as much as possible, Saturn to PC or Coleco Chameleon or whatever, can be 1st party but who says the business can't expand and not just to movies/figures/shampoo/fridges but games via any way to play. It can be so broad it's confusing and jack of all trades but confusing which one with all the choice, but I mean they are trying and it's working for audiences for sure so why not.

@BacklogBrad in the EU. Apple, Amazon, Google & Microsoft are classed as Gatekeepers. So have been forced to open up in accordance of the Digital Market Act. It's why Xbox looks to be opening up next gen. Sony PlayStation revenue falls in line with it's scrutiny if it goes all digital in the future. Nintendo doesn't make enough revenue. So goes under the radar in the EU.

@Banjo- I heard that. Epic & Microsoft complained that Apple isn't playing ball to the EU. So another investigation has been opened. According to the BBC.

The European Commission has opened another investigation into Apple regarding new contractual terms for developers.

This focuses on three main areas:

A fee of €0.50 (£0.42) which Apple charges developers for every app downloaded outside of Apple's App Store

The number of steps which Apple puts in place for users who want to download apps from alternative stores

Whether Apple's eligibility criteria for alternative app store developers breaches the Digital Market Act.

@cragis0001 Thanks! That's extremely interesting because Apple is trying to circumvent the regulations and that should not allowed either, as it's another way to keep doing illegal practices in dirty ways.

@cragis0001 sony and nintendo will get caught up in it as well. There is no way one competitor would be forced to do something and not the others. If not the EU then somewhere regulators will call it out.

@WildConcept6 it's a good thing now then that they will add it soon, I guess. But if it is because of a separate app, then xbox could have made a separate app dedicated to only viewing and buying xbox games. I no longer have the xbox, but when I did, I needed a way to browse the store and see what I could buy. And because they didn't, I didn't buy anything from the xbox store.

I use the steam app a lot now, I use it to check my wishlist and add new games to it from my phone and I've also made purchases using my phone rather than directly from steam on PC.

So I feel like xbox probably missed out on sales because they didn't have a mobile app for buying or browsing what games were available on the xbox.

@Banjo- if found guilty they could be fined 10% of there global income 👍. The EU said they weren't impressed back in June with there progress. Plus Microsoft & Epic have also been vocal. So can't see them getting away with it.

@BacklogBrad the EU mentioned Sony & gaming when they announced the Digital Markets Act. But decided not to act. I wonder if the EU is watching the UK case of gamers that are taking Sony to court for ripping them off.