Microsoft filed an amicus brief supporting Epic Games' fight against Apple over its control over the App Store.

The court ruling makes it possible for Microsoft to now launch its Xbox mobile store, but it’s clear that the software giant also wants to ensure Apple’s appeal against the ruling isn’t successful. If Microsoft did launch its Xbox mobile store and then Apple won a temporary stay, it may have to pull that store pending the appeal process.

Microsoft says Apple's App Store rules are to blame for the continued delay of the Xbox mobile app store it announced last summer. In an amicus brief filed this week first spotted by The Verge, Microsoft expressed support for Epic Games in the company's long-running bout against Apple.

Microsoft has backed “Fortnite” video game maker Epic Games in its legal battle with Apple – alleging in a new court filing that the Tim Cook-led tech giant has “stymied” its own efforts to create