In this article, I will tell you Microsoft may have recently announced Android app support for Xbox (Updated: Nope).
TL;DR
According to a new Microsoft Store listing, Xbox consoles will soon be able to run Android apps.
The Xbox One is expressly mentioned in the Windows Subsystem for the Android store listing.
Since then, a Microsoft source has stated that Android apps will not be available for Xbox.
Original publication date: September 3, 2021 (2:06 a.m. ET): In the next months, Microsoft will add Android app support to Windows 11, allowing you to utilize some of the most popular mobile apps on your desktop, laptop, or Windows tablet. It appears that the necessary software to enable this feature is now available online.
The Windows Subsystem for Android has appeared on the Microsoft Store, and you can also download it, according to XDA-Developers. Unfortunately, when the software is launched, it merely displays a black window.
What's more intriguing is that this software page lists the Xbox as a compatible device. It specifies the Xbox One as the minimum requirement. Take a look at the image below.
The system requirements, which demand Windows 10 version 22000.0 or higher and a minimum of 8GB of RAM, also give us an idea of what to expect on PC (16GB recommended).
However, this is the first time we've heard of Android app support possibly coming to Xbox consoles. We're not clear if the Xbox remark is simply placeholder text or genuine assurance that this feature will be available on consoles. It's also worth noting that this app listing appears to be for internal testing only, suggesting that Microsoft is only experimenting with this feature on consoles rather than planning a full-fledged release.
Nonetheless, Android app compatibility on Xbox devices would be beneficial for a number of reasons. For starters, this would pave the way for Android games to be converted to consoles (though we hope there is adequate quality control). Then there's the reality that while certain streaming services lack Xbox software, they do have Android clients.
We've reached out to Microsoft reps for clarity on the possibility of Android app compatibility for Xbox consoles. We'll update the story if/when they respond. Do you want Android apps to be supported on consoles? Please vote in the poll above.