Microsoft Blames Apple for Xbox Mobile Store Delay (eurogamer.net)
(Wednesday May 21, 2025 @11:22AM (msmash)
from the some-things-never-change dept.)
- Reference: 0177676181
- News link: https://games.slashdot.org/story/25/05/21/1410249/microsoft-blames-apple-for-xbox-mobile-store-delay
- Source link: https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-mobile-game-store-launch-stymied-by-apple-says-microsoft
Microsoft has officially cited Apple's App Store policies as the roadblock preventing its Xbox mobile store launch promised for July 2024. In an amicus brief supporting Epic Games filed this week, Microsoft alleged that Apple's "anti-steering policies" have [1]"stymied" its mobile store ambitions despite a court injunction allowing developers to advertise alternative payment methods.
The brief challenges Apple's attempt to overturn this crucial ruling, which enabled Fortnite's App Store return with external payment links. Microsoft argues that launching its store under threat of Apple potentially winning a temporary stay creates significant business risk. The restrictions also impact Microsoft's Xbox mobile app functionality.
[1] https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-mobile-game-store-launch-stymied-by-apple-says-microsoft
The brief challenges Apple's attempt to overturn this crucial ruling, which enabled Fortnite's App Store return with external payment links. Microsoft argues that launching its store under threat of Apple potentially winning a temporary stay creates significant business risk. The restrictions also impact Microsoft's Xbox mobile app functionality.
[1] https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-mobile-game-store-launch-stymied-by-apple-says-microsoft
Consumers (Score:3)
Anti-monopoly laws are supposed to protect consumers. Are consumers clamoring to have five different app stores on their phone?
I'm seriously asking, as I only have a dozen or so apps on my phone, mainly remote controls for some audio gadgets and car, a couple of authenticators, VLC and OneNote. I've never paid for an app or game on my phone.
Re: (Score:2)
> Are consumers clamoring to have five different app stores on their phone?
Probably not but the point is that we could not even find that out for Apple because they would not allow anyone to do it. That's not even the moopoly issue though, it's legal to have a monopoly what is illegal is using that monopoly power to create and further the monopoly, that's how they lost.
> I've never paid for an app or game on my phone.
Apple did $100B in App store revenue in 202, we have to be capable of arguing points outside of personal experiences.
Missing the point (Score:2)
> Are consumers clamoring to have five different app stores on their phone?
The point isn't to know "how many consumers actually want this" - it's to know if some company is actively interfering with making that a possibility.
At the end of the day, we really can't know the wants of consumers when something is technically possible but there are artificial barriers to making it happen (thereby limiting all other possibilities as well).
I'm reminded of how the whole movie-rental business (and peripheral benefits) may never have happened if the movie industry had been successful in maki
Re: (Score:2)
> The point isn't to know "how many consumers actually want this"
That is very much the point. Is forcing Apple to allow third party app stores good for consumers, or good for the third party app stores? I don't particularly care one way or the other, but I can't fathom that most consumers want to install and deal with multiple app stores on their phones.
Re: (Score:2)
> That is very much the point. Is forcing Apple to allow third party app stores good for consumers, or good for the third party app stores?
Again, we can't know either way.... until that possibility is allowed to happen. Might be a great benefit to consumers, or might be a bust. Point is we can't know with that possibility being artificially denied.
> I don't particularly care one way or the other, but I can't fathom that most consumers want to install and deal with multiple app stores on their phones.
Simply because you can't see a benefit for yourself doesn't mean the possibility doesn't exist for anyone else. And no, your say isn't everyone's as well.
Re: (Score:2)
Just because I don't personally open my car hood to tinker with the engine doesn't mean every car owner should be restricted to dealership garages for repairs.
Re: Consumers (Score:2)
If you look at macOS (where the App Store is not required), there are more kinds of apps, more app purchasing models (for ex. upgrades) and consumers overwhelming buy apps outside of the App Store.
It's also pretty easy to see how alternative App Stores become super popular.. For ex. Do you think current Steam users would like to be able to cross-buy games for PC, Mac and iOS? That seems like a no brainer and huge win for consumers by itself.
Re: (Score:2)
> If you look at macOS (where the App Store is not required), there are more kinds of apps, more app purchasing models (for ex. upgrades) and consumers overwhelming buy apps outside of the App Store.
And devs are far less restricted in distributing their software outside Apple's restrictive stores - a clear benefit to consumers.