Xbox App Update Brings Game Purchases and Game Pass to Mobile
▼ Summary
– Microsoft has updated the Xbox mobile app to allow in-app purchases of games, DLC, and Game Pass subscriptions on iOS and Android.
– The update introduces a “Buy” button for eligible titles and supports remote installation to linked Xbox consoles.
– The update removes support for remote play, limiting streaming to mobile browsers or compatible devices like Samsung TVs and Meta Quest headsets.
– Microsoft is planning to launch a standalone Xbox mobile store by mid-2024 to bypass app store fees and control its monetization model.
– Regulatory changes, such as Google’s antitrust loss and the European Digital Markets Act, are creating opportunities for Microsoft’s mobile gaming ambitions.
Microsoft is quietly expanding the role of its Xbox mobile app. A new update, now in beta, allows users to buy games, downloadable content (DLC), and even subscribe to Xbox Game Pass directly from the app on iOS and Android. This marks the first time full purchases are enabled in-app, without redirecting users to a browser or console.
Users with a saved payment method will now see a “Buy” button for eligible titles, including preorders. The app also supports remote installation to a linked Xbox console. While these may seem like overdue conveniences, they point to something more ambitious: Microsoft is building the early layers of its own mobile gaming storefront.
But there’s a catch. The update removes support for remote play — a feature that let users stream games from their console to their phone. Going forward, streaming will be limited to mobile browsers or compatible devices like Samsung TVs or Meta Quest headsets.
Xbox Lays the Groundwork for a Mobile Game Store
Microsoft has been hinting at its mobile ambitions for over a year. With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard now closed, the company controls mobile heavyweights like Candy Crush and Call of Duty Mobile, perfect anchors for a mobile-first store.
Rather than depend on Apple or Google’s ecosystems, Microsoft is planning to launch a standalone Xbox mobile store, likely browser-based, by mid-2024. That move would allow it to bypass app store fees, promote cross-platform play, and control its monetization model — key advantages in a market that’s historically been gatekept by others.
The in-app purchasing update is a step toward that vision. It familiarizes users with buying from Xbox outside the console, while also training them to expect more from the app.
App Store Regulations Open New Doors for Microsoft
The timing isn’t random. Regulators are forcing change in mobile distribution. Google recently lost an antitrust case to Epic Games, which could open Android up to third-party stores and more flexible billing. In Europe, the Digital Markets Act is putting pressure on Apple to allow sideloading and alternative payment systems.
Microsoft is moving to take advantage. By building a storefront that lives outside traditional platforms — and adding commerce features now — Xbox is setting itself up to be first in line when the doors swing open.
What looks like a minor app update is actually a sign of what’s coming next: a reshaped mobile ecosystem where Xbox isn’t just competing on consoles, but on every screen.
(Inspired by: The Verge)
