Google's 'anti-competitive' Android moves could impact Xbox, Windows 11

Google "G" logo
Google "G" logo (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Google is facing a lawsuit alleging anti-competitive practices.
  • Google has gradually ramped up its control of Android over the years, forcing manufacturers to integrate more and more Google services.
  • Google reportedly plans to restrict subscription-based streaming services, and that could have implications for Microsoft and many others.

Google is being slapped with a suite of anti-trust lawsuits as part of a larger pushback in the U.S. into anti-competitive monopolistic practices by "big tech" (via The Verge). As part of the legal proceedings, the prosecution is outlining a range of scummy moves by everyone's favorite data-harvesting search monopoly designed to stifle competition.

The moves range from forcing Android handset manufacturers to pre-install up to thirty Google services, give them "favorable" home screen placement, while making them "impossible" to delete, which the lawsuit alleges stifles competition from other solutions. Google is also set to ditch installable APKs for apps, which will make it more difficult for competing Android stores to curate and offer content, such as the Samsung Galaxy Store, Amazon app store, and the upcoming Windows 11 Android integration feature.

Among the most impactful for Microsoft potentially is this new change to subscription-based services, which will, like Apple's iOS, be banned from informing users how to sign up via the web. Services like Office, OneDrive, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and beyond, may have to give Google a 30 percent cut of in-app subscriptions, or they'll be banned from helping users to sign up via third-party web-based means.

While this isn't going to stop anyone who is determined to sign up for Xbox Game Pass, Netflix, and other similar services, it does disrupt the usual purchase flow for potential customers on Android and will impact the ability of these services to acquire users.

Apple has faced mounting pressure from regulators and the public alike over the raw deal it offers developers on its platform, facing a fruitless but rather embarrassing lawsuit with Epic Games over Fortnite, which is currently effectively banned from iOS devices for offering users a way to acquire in-app purchases without using the Apple Store. Microsoft also pivoted the development of an iOS native app for Xbox Game Pass to building a web app instead, because Apple's 30 percent fee on top of the arbitrary requirement for games to be separate entities would've made the business there unviable.

Source: Windows Central Xbox Game Pass on Android helps users sign up on the web right now, but Google is reportedly seeking to ban that practice. (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Google has responded to the multi-state accusations in a blog post, alleging that it is "open" and fosters competitiveness. Although, the evidence offered in the legal complaint seems to suggest otherwise. You need only search in Google (or Bing 😉) for "Google fined" to discover a plethora of instances where the company has failed to appeal anti-trust allegations. They say there's no smoke without fire, after all.

Jez Corden
Executive Editor

Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter (X) and Threads, and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!

Read more
Google Chrome on PC
DOJ demands divestiture of Chrome browser and sets sights on making Google sell Android — calls Google "incompatible with free markets and freedom"
Bing looks a lot like Google now
Microsoft wants you to use Bing so badly that it's using "deceptive tactics" to transform the search engine into an imitation of Google — Google responds
Microsoft Edge web browser app in App Store seen displayed on a smartphone.
Microsoft tries again with aggressive tactics against Google and Chrome, touting Edge's "world-class performance" with a pop-up ad promo
ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook
Months before millions of PCs will get stuck on Windows 10, Google makes its case for running ChromeOS to use Microsoft 365
Artificial Intelligence AI Assistant Apps - ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, Poe.
Copilot gets a boost from Bing. Microsoft's search engine now promotes Copilot if you search for Gemini, ChatGPT, Grok, or other AI tools.
This is fine meme with the Microsoft logo on the dog surrounded by flames.
Microsoft News Roundup: Nightmare week of price hikes, rebrands, and remembering how Bill Gates lost $400 billion
Latest in Windows 11
Photo of Microsoft's new sign-in page for Xbox.com using the Microsoft Edge browser.
Over one billion users will get a new Microsoft user experience, and it has a dark mode
Windows Update
Microsoft begins testing next phase of Windows 11 — Dev Channel to flight new platform changes
Windows 11 Search
Copilot+ PCs' first must-have feature is just around the corner
Themes section of the Microsoft Store on Windows 11
Two of my least favorite things about the Microsoft Store are about to get fixed
Surface Laptop 7
Amazon warns Surface Laptop 7 shoppers as Mojang unveils massive visual update to Minecraft and Microsoft leaks a potential new feature for the Xbox app on Windows 11
Windows 11 Update Settings
Your PC might have been blocked from updating Windows 11 because of this game
Latest in News
Cloud servers
Microsoft has killed "several" data center projects in the U.S. and Europe, according to reports
Photo of Microsoft's new sign-in page for Xbox.com using the Microsoft Edge browser.
Over one billion users will get a new Microsoft user experience, and it has a dark mode
The Thing: Remastered key art
The Thing comes to Xbox Cloud Gaming's "Stream Your Own Game" library alongside other new arrivals
Promotional screenshot of heroes fighting a giant in Pillars of Eternity
Obsidian's classic Baldur's Gate successor 'Pillars of Eternity' is getting a surprise turn-based mode later this year, alongside other updates
Atomfall
Atomfall reviews and Metacritic scores are in: Here's a roundup of what everyone's saying about this new Game Pass survival game
Screenshot of one of the new flat world presets in Minecraft.
Minecraft testing new flat world presets and a better way to locate your friends in-game