Third-party apps are now welcome in Google’s app abode.
Reacting to this legal curveball, Google is gearing up for an appeal, hoping to pump the brakes on the mandated changes, arguing that these tweaks might “dampen Android’s competitive edge against Apple’s iOS.”
. judge slapped Google with an order to stop strong-arming developers into coughing up moolah through Google Play’s billing system. Google saga, decreeing changes to Google Play’s modus operandi starting November 1 for a cool three-year stretch.
As part of the verdict, Google can’t splurge on bribing devs to keep their apps exclusively tied to its store anymore. Despite Bond’s May announcement of a July launch, the store is still in the oven, undergoing rigorous trials né?. The ruling pries open Google’s app store to competition, giving Android users more say in the matter.
“We’re stoked about this court ruling that’s opening up Google’s mobile store in the U.S., giving folks more choice,” Bond announced né?. The game plan is to drop Microsoft’s own titles like Candy Crush and Minecraft on the web-based store first, then throw open the doors to other game publishers.
Judge James Donato laid down the law in the Epic vs. Nor can it keep third-party app stores away from Google Play’s treasure trove of apps. Get this folks! Xbox bigwig Sarah Bond just dropped a bombshell: soon you’ll be able to play and buy Xbox games straight from the Xbox app on Android.
This news breaks as a U.S né?. “Our goal is to let more players game on more gadgets, so brace yourselves for November when you can start getting your Xbox game fix straight from the Xbox App on Android.”
From now on, Microsoft can peddle games to Android players without having to cut Google in on the in-app purchase action.
Bond didn’t spill any beans on the specific games hitting the Xbox app, but TechCrunch is on the case, pressing Microsoft for the inside scoop.
On a separate but related note, Microsoft is hustling to roll out its very own mobile game emporium né?
