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Microsoft Halts Sale of Xbox Live Titles in the App Store

posted August 21st, 2008 8:17 PM EDT by Blake Patterson in News

Many iPhone gamers out there are Xbox Live gamers as well, which is why we covered Nicholas Pike's Xbox LIVE Friends (formerly known as iXboxLive) [App Store], an application that helps iPhone users on the go stay in touch with people on their Xbox Live "buddy list."

Xbox LIVE Friends isn't the only such app in the iTunes App Store.  Another popular application that keeps iPhone users in touch with their Xbox Live buddies is 1337pwn.com's 1337pwn XBOX Live Friends Application [App Store].  It offers a variety of features to the Xbox Live gamer on the go:

  • Complete XBOX Live Profile including Biography and Location
  • Send messages through XBOX.com via a shortcut button
  • Recent Games List including store and last date/time played
  • Direct link to a player's iHaloStats face card
  • Links to leaderboards for applications like the Club and Geometry Wars
  • Shortcut links to compare achievements on XBOX.com
  • Location is integrated with Google Maps application
  • Twitter integration--simply include twitter(twitname) in XBOX Live bio

1337pwn debuted on the App Store as an $8 download and was later reduced to $5.  But, as Ars Technica reports, thanks to Microsoft--it's now free.  It seems that Microsoft is not happy about third-party developers selling apps that tie to Xbox Live.  According to 1337pwn's blog post, "Microsoft is halting the sale of any XBOX Live-related applications in the iTunes App Store."

And unsurprisingly...Xbox Live Friends is now free as well.  Xbox Live gamers can be glad these apps are still available for free.  Let's hope Microsoft's stance does not harden to the point of forcing free versions of such applications out of the iTunes App Store.

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  • JalenJade

    So does Apple give a refund to those that bought the App since Microsoft forced the price change? Or even better, does Microsoft give something to those that purchased the apps before the price change?

  • JalenJade

    So does Apple give a refund to those that bought the App since Microsoft forced the price change? Or even better, does Microsoft give something to those that purchased the apps before the price change?

  • http://gloryfish.org Jay

    I don't think Microsoft will pull the apps. They provide the Live API to certain registered developers (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/developer/default.htm) for exactly this purpose. They have always had the stipulation that people can't make money from using the Live data. They have a similar license around use of game content for mash ups and stuff like that: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/developer/rules.htm

  • http://gloryfish.org Jay

    I don't think Microsoft will pull the apps. They provide the Live API to certain registered developers (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/developer/default.htm) for exactly this purpose. They have always had the stipulation that people can't make money from using the Live data. They have a similar license around use of game content for mash ups and stuff like that: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/developer/rules.htm

  • Pingback: Microsoft Halts Sales of Xbox Live iPhone Apps : popculturegeek.com

  • U_had_a _dumb_question

    No. The price of apps changes all the time on the App Store and discounts and refunds are never given.

  • U_had_a _dumb_question

    No. The price of apps changes all the time on the App Store and discounts and refunds are never given.

  • Ryan

    I'm just amazed MS didn't demand most of the profits and then let them keep selling....

  • Ryan

    I'm just amazed MS didn't demand most of the profits and then let them keep selling....

  • http://boxofjack.com/ Jack

    Wow, this headline is seriously misleading. We all love to hate on Microsoft but they are making something free, they're not shutting it down. They're just asking that a developer play by their rules when using their services which is exactly what Apple asks of all iPhone SDK developers.

  • http://boxofjack.com/ Jack

    Wow, this headline is seriously misleading. We all love to hate on Microsoft but they are making something free, they're not shutting it down. They're just asking that a developer play by their rules when using their services which is exactly what Apple asks of all iPhone SDK developers.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1834985203 Troy Benckendorf

    Gday muchos gracis for the new entry. This was super cool.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1834985203 Troy Benckendorf

    Gday muchos gracis for the new entry. This was super cool.

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