Late Thursday, Xbox revealed that it will start selling games from its marketplace via the Android App to let players buy and play straight from their Xbox mobile devices.
Microsoft plans to open their Xbox marketplace on mobile devices as early as November, allowing players to bypass the App stores when purchasing titles directly on their Android devices. This marketplace will be available directly through the Xbox mobile app for the first time, and due to a court ruling earlier in the week, forced Google Play app billing will be required to stop as early as November 1.
While Google announced that it would appeal the verdict from the ruling, Xbox President Sarah Bond revealed Microsoft’s “every screen is an Xbox” strategy last February. The Xbox mobile app appears to be an extension of that plan. Late last evening, Bond had applauded the court ruling, saying “The court’s ruling to open up Google´s mobile store in the US will allow more choice and flexibility” in an X (formerly Twitter) post that can be seen below.
A court ruling from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta demands that Google stop forcing developers to use its Google Play Billing system after a jury found that Google had illegally tied its payment system to its app store. Google will also have to allow the distribution of rival third-party app stores (without taking a cut) within Google Play. Further, the ruling explores remedies to ensure “Google cannot control the distribution of tomorrow,” which could include restructuring the entire company.
The Xbox mobile app is expected to capitalize on this ruling and launch its marketplace before Google completes the appellate process. Fans will be able to start buying Xbox titles directly from the Xbox mobile app as early as Nov. 1.
