Court Delays Microsoft's Android Xbox App Plans

The courts have temporarily blocked Microsofts new plans to give users the ability to buy games directly from the Xbox App

[Christopher]

"At Xbox, we want to offer players more choice on how and where they play AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE, including being able to play and buy games directly from the Xbox app, WHICH WOULD BYPASS THE PHONE'S BUILT IN STORE APPS AND IGNORE THAT WE ARE UTILIZING THEIR PROPRIETARY AND CLOSED OFF SYSTEM TO REACH A WIDER MARKET WITHOUT PAYING THEM ANYTHING AT ALL. I recently shared our ambition to unlock these features first with the Google Play Store on Android devices in the U.S. while other app stores adapt to meet consumer demand, BUT WHAT I REALLY MEAN IS TO MAKE MORE MONEY WHILE HIDING THAT WE'RE ONLY MAKING THAT MONEY BECAUSE GOOGLE IS SUCCESSFUL IN THE PHONE MARKET WHEREAS WE HAD TO CLOSE OUT OUR BUSINESS BECAUSE WE COULDN'T COMPETE IN IT.

Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned, AND BY FEATURES WE MEAN BYPASSING THE SAME GOOGLE STOREFRONT EVERYONE ELSE IS USING. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision, BECAUSE WE LIKE GETTING PAID AND GOOGLE NOT GETTING PAID. We are eager to launch and give more choice and flexibility to players, BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE LIKE PROFIT FOR US, NOT FOR OTHERS. IF WE ACTUALLY CARED ABOUT YOU WE WOULD LAUNCH IT FOR YOU NOW AND IRON OUT THE DETAILS OF WHETHER OR NOT GOOGLE GETS A CUT OF OUR SALES VIA AN APP MADE AVAILABLE ON THEIR CLOSED OFF STOREFRONT."

[dveio]

But I gotta say I don't understand this.

Doesn't Sony offer a 'Playstation App', too, where you can buy games and subscriptions? An app that you can download via Google's Play Store?

Or am I missing something here?

[StoneTitan]

I think they want to have exclusive android apps on there. For example. Cod mobile/candy crush. Instead of people downloading it from google play. So they dont have to pay 30% from all the income.

[DarXyde]

In their own ecosystem, yes. I think the issue is that Microsoft is looking to bypass other stores so as not to give any money to their competitors.

Think about it like this....

Microsoft could in theory make all of their games playable through a web browser. On any modern device. Well, in that case, Microsoft gets 100% of your money as they piggyback on other devices, right?

This is kind of like that. If you buy through an Xbox app, well, any device that supports it means the many platforms they launch on won't see a penny. Not Google, PlayStation, Nintendo, whoever.

In a closed ecosystem, it's whatever. But when you're everywhere, this is outlandish greed.

[Christopher]

*** Doesn't Sony offer a 'Playstation App', too, where you can buy games and subscriptions? An app that you can download via Google's Play Store? ***

You buy games to play on PSN, not on Android. This is much how most 'app version of our website' apps works. Furthermore, these type of apps are not promoted as 'game' apps on the Play Store, so the algorithm doesn't help promote them.

Microsoft is selling games for play on an Android App. This is utilizing Google's Play Store to sell content for play on Google's OS while benefiting from the app being a 'game' app and getting the algorithm promotion as such.

[gold_drake]

soo, they wanted to bypass google plays 30% cut. interesting. and scummy.

couldnt they do that just by releasing it on their website ? i dont think if that actually works tho.

"play anywhere" comes with an asterix Microsoft. should have thought about that beforehand

[MaximusPrime_]

Lol that's true. "Play anywhere"

[DivineHand125]

If Microsoft is scummy for not wanting 30% of their sales to go to google then 90% of all developers and publishers are scummy for wanting the sale thing. Some have even tried taking Apple, Google and Valve to court for the same thing.

[Christopher]

And they have lost because if you could ignore Google's own environment and policies, then you could also do the same thing on Xbox and PSN. These storefronts exist for the same reason that B&M storefronts exist.

Let alone, Microsoft is making this not about the cost but their attempt to get it in the hands of gamers who deserve their product. That's a lie. If it was about the consumers, they would already have it on the storefront and let Google take a cut so you could play it. This is purely about greed. Is Google also about greed? Yeah, but they're not the ones trying to force their products on the Windows Store with nothing going to Microsoft. We have greed vs greed, and Microsoft is the one pushing the boundaries on greed here. Both suck, though (P.S. Sony also sucks for their greed as well, btw).

[richie007bond]

If this was PlayStation the comments section would be like, there would nothing to see here its fine.

[Christopher]

***If this was PlayStation the comments section would be like, there would nothing to see here its fine. ***

"I have no argument so I'll make this about Sony, which has nothing to do with this at all."

[Hofstaderman]

But....but....but....my phone IS a XBOX......

[goken]

I don’t see why MS can’t have their own App to sell whatever they want on Android. Especially Since google play isn’t the only App market on Andriod.
Furthermore the xbox app will mostly selling games for PC or consoles. How does it make sense that google (or apple for that matter) should take a cut for someone buying games on other devices.

[Christopher]

They can, but they know that most people are not likely to enable third-party app installations on their phone for that to happen. It seems sketchy and they know it. That's why third-party apps and stores don't get much notice. Instead, Microsoft wants to act the victim for having it on the Play Store, which reaches the full market and includes built-in algorithm advertising, without paying Google for it.

[goken]

I do not question MS’s greed. But I do not believe that google or whoever should basically be allowed to blanket impose a 30% levy on all digital goods and services regardless whether those goods and services are even used on the phone.
Why should google and apple get 30% of what i buy for my xbox, PS or PC?

[Christopher]

***But I do not believe that google or whoever should basically be allowed to blanket impose a 30% levy on all digital goods and services regardless whether those goods and services are even used on the phone. ***

The app is on the phone, the store utilizes Google Pay services, algorithms, and accounts, the games are played via the android device.

This is no different than playing a game you bought on Steam on a PC that is running Windows. You pay Steam for providing the game access, not for the OS.

Why does Microsoft find it fine to pay Steam 30% for games they sell but not 30% for games sold on Android that can be streamed from Android?

[goken]

Think about what you’re saying.

Imagine if MS collects 30% for digital online transactions you do on windows pc.

[Christopher]

*** Imagine if MS collects 30% for digital online transactions you do on windows pc. ***

You mean like the Microsoft Store? Do you not understand how stores work?

Windows can't do what Android and iOS do because it's not a close off system. But they also have their own storefront. They went to court and lost that argument, but Android and iOS have won it for controlling the hardware used for their iOS.

[Seraphim]

Imagine this. Developer or publisher decides to launch own app on XB to sell games directly to consumers and avoid paying MS a cut of each sale on their platform. I can't see MS being happy about or allowing that.

Why should this be different? The powers that be have determined that x% is to be paid to host the sale of video games on whatever platform. That these closed platforms and ecosystems are for the security of users. Be that Android, IOS, XB, PS, Switch, Steam, GoG, etc. This is a classic tale of MS wanting their cake and eating it too. I mean for each sale on XB, MS gets a cut. If they are pushing for this then they should allow developers/publishers to bypass their store and sell directly to consumers too.

[dveio]

So does that mean Google get a cut from eBay or Amazon for every purchase that's been transmitted or processed via their app?

[goken]

Apparently physical goods are not applicable, only digital.
Which seems arbitrary (maybe not given it much thought). What if they suddenly decide that they should also collect 30% on physical goods?
For me this is basically potentially like a tax on everything phone related. Not good for the consumer, because ultimately we are the ones footing the bill

[Jingsing]

This tactic is calling "tunneling out" Microsoft basically want to do a great escape on other well established eco systems and not pay the tax to be on them at the same time, It is like someone else using your house to setup a business and you can't do anything about it, which is illegal in many countries.

[goken]

Ultimately all these cost are paid by the consumer.
The xbox shop takes a 30% cut to begin with, on top of that it’s another 30% by google and apple. What you’re left is 40% for the developer.
And gamers bitch about games being expensive but seem to back such policies by google and apple. This is kinda like voting against your own interest