Xbox app and cloud gaming – big changes in November / Xbox Aktuell

Because platform operators have always wanted to make money, you can't currently buy or stream games via the Xbox mobile app. This has now changed for Android users. There's also big innovation coming our way when it comes to cloud gaming.

But first things first. Apple and Google, as operators of the iOS and Android platforms, charge a commission of about 30% for all purchases or subscriptions made or concluded in an app, and Apple in particular does not yet allow third-party stores on its iPhones. After the European Union introduced the Digital Markets Act (GDM or Digital Markets Act, DMA) to force operators to open up their ecosystems, the United States has also implemented one Court ruling against Google Things moved. In a dispute between Google and Epic Games, a court ruled that Google has a monopoly on Android, which is why Google must offer third-party stores directly in its Play Store and therefore cannot charge fees for sales made through its stores.

The court's ruling to open Google's mobile store in the United States will allow for more options and flexibility. Our mission is to allow more players to play on more devices, so we're excited to announce that starting in November, gamers will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly…

– Bondsarah Bond (@BondSarah_Bond) October 10, 2024

As a result, starting in November, Microsoft will add new features to the Xbox app on Android that many gamers have missed so far: you will be able to purchase games directly via the mobile app and also play them directly via streaming. Going around the browser is no longer necessary. Nothing will change for iPhone users, at least for now, but sooner or later Apple will have to open up iOS to Microsoft because of the ruling.

Second, Microsoft's game streaming options will fundamentally change starting in November. Until now, cloud gaming was only for games on Xbox Game Pass. Therefore, private and purchased games that are not included in the subscription cannot be streamed. Xbox head Phil Spencer already confirmed at the beginning of the year that they want to change this in the future, and now the time has come: starting in November, Xbox Cloud Gaming will be available in a testing phase, initially for Xbox Insider users, in which “thousands” of games within the private game library will be expanded. It will be released before gradually releasing the feature to all users and all games.