Microsoft is ready to launch the Xbox app on Android, but cannot do so until an antitrust r uling in the United States comes into force. This is reported by The Verge.

Xbox president Sarah Bond said earlier that “players will be able to play and buy Xbox games directly from the Xbox app on Android” in November 2024. It’s almost December, and the feature still doesn’t work. According to Bond, it’s not Microsoft’s fault.

The problem is that Microsoft will be able to launch the app only after a court ruling comes into force, which provides for radical changes to the Google Play Store on Android, including opening it up to competition and abolishing the requirement to use Google Play Billing.

However, on October 18, the US court granted Google’s request to suspend the execution of the decision while the company appeals.

3/4: Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision.

— BondSarahBond (@bondsarahbond.bsky.social) 2024-11-27T21:15:23.695Z

“Due to a temporary administrative stay recently granted by the courts, we are currently unable to launch these features as planned. Our team has the functionality built and ready to go live as soon as the court makes a final decision,” Sarah Bond writes.

Google responded to Sarah Bond’s statement and said that:

“Microsoft has always been able to offer their Android users the ability to play and purchase Xbox games directly from their app – they’ve simply chosen not to,” writes Google spokesman Dan Jackson.