What you need to know
- Microsoft recently merged the Xbox App with the Xbox Game Pass app, with the former gaining most of the now-deprecated latter's functions.
- Following a court ruling requiring Google to open its U.S. mobile storefront, Xbox president Sarah Bond confirmed that Xbox App users will be able to buy games and play them through Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android.
- First promised in 2022, the new features will begin rolling out in Nov. 2024 and marks a huge step forward for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
- Also, yes, this means streaming your owned Xbox games, even if it's not included in your Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Big changes are coming for Xbox users on Android.
Starting in November, Xbox App users on Android devices will be able to buy games and play them through Xbox Cloud Gaming, including their existing library, as shared by Xbox president Sarah Bond on Thursday via Threads. This comes shortly after Google was ordered by a court to open up its mobile storefront in the U.S, with the changes taking effect on Nov. 1, 2024.
"The court's ruling to open up Google's mobile store in the US will allow more choice and flexibility. Our mission is to allow more players to play on more devices so we are thrilled to share that starting in November, players will be able to play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android," Bond said.
This comes as Microsoft recently combined the Xbox App and the Xbox Game Pass app, with the former gaining most of the latter's features. The Xbox Game Pass app has been deprecated, with Xbox Cloud Gaming currently moved to Xbox.com/play.
With support for buying and streaming games added to the Xbox App on Android devices in November, players will be able to instantly buy a game and then play it through Xbox Cloud Gaming, delivering on a feature that's been promised to Xbox players for years. Players don't have to rebuy their favorite titles, either — it's all the same Xbox library, so the games you already own come with, too. It's not clear at this point, however, what (if any) games will be excluded from this due to publisher constraints.
Speaking on his Xbox Two podcast, our managing editor Jez Corden added that it won't be the full catalogue, with sources indicating that players can expect batches of games rolling out over time and being tested. See the link below for more details.
RELATED: Details on Xbox Cloud Gaming's "bring your own games" rollout
Xbox Cloud Gaming remains mostly exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the highest tier of Microsoft's subscription service, which also grants day one access to new first-party games. Now that Xbox Cloud Gaming has finally taken this major step toward being a complete service, though, we may one day see a standalone subscription tier for those who won't own an Xbox console or gaming PC. It's exciting for Xbox's ambitions on mobile devices, which also includes building a mobile Xbox game and app store.
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Xbox has big plans on mobile
Following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King back in 2023, Microsoft Gaming executives have repeatedly espoused plans to create an Xbox Mobile Store. Earlier in the year, Bond indicated this store would launch in July 2024, but October has arrived and the store is still not available, although players have discovered a web page for the store.
Microsoft currently plans for this Xbox Mobile Store to begin with first-party franchises like Mojang's Minecraft and King's Candy Crush, though Bond indicated that the store would open up to third-party games from different partners over time. Combined with the Xbox App gaining the ability to bring players' existing libraries over to mobile via the cloud, and Xbox is establishing itself to become a major player in the mobile gaming space.
