Microsoft Hasn’t Given Up on its Long-Awaited Xbox Mobile Store

Microsoft is still hoping to launch its own Xbox mobile game store on iOS and Android, Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma confirmed yesterday. Former Xbox President Sarah Bond previously announced a July 2024 launch for the new mobile store, but it never happened, despite ongoing legal battles that are slowly pushing Apple and Google to welcome third-party app stores.

Yesterday, Sharma reacted to reports noting that the URL for the web-based version of the Xbox mobile store was no longer working. While it’s not clear when the URL was removed, Sharma said that Microsoft hasn’t given up on the project.

“Three weeks ago, we filed an amicus because mobile competition still matters and we believe the future of play should be more open. While I am still learning, the idea of an Xbox mobile store is not dead,” Sharma posted on X.

Three weeks ago, we filed an amicus because mobile competition still matters and we believe the future of play should be more open. While I am still learning, the idea of an Xbox mobile store is not dead

— Asha (@asha_shar) April 22, 2026

The Verge has since found the legal brief that the Microsoft Gaming CEO mentioned in her post, and it’s tied to the well-publicized Epic v. Google case. As part of the recent settlement, Google agreed to create a Registered Store program allowing third-party Android app stores to be installable from the web worldwide without any “scare screens,” except in the US.

In the US, the court’s proposed injunction may force Google to provide access to third-party stores directly through the Google Play Store, and this is the solution Microsoft currently supports. “In response to the injunction, Microsoft has undertaken significant efforts to prepare and launch new consumer offerings, which have won approval from Android users. Microsoft has a keen interest in the continued implementation the injunction, which has enabled innovation, spurred technological development, and promoted competition,” the company said in its legal brief amicus brief.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, one of the biggest advocates for making Android a fully open platform like Windows, expressed support for Sharma’s work to make Microsoft’s Xbox mobile store happen. “This is great news, and the Epic v Google settlement ensures it can come to Android without those old “unknown sources” scare screens worldwide,” Sweeney posted yesterday.