Recently, Apple issued new App Store rules, granting permission to game streaming services like xCloud and Stadia to exist on iOS and iPadOS with an exception. The iPhone maker wants companies like Microsoft and Google to submit their games as separate apps using its streaming tech. They are also free to create a catalog-style app to collect and link out to their apps.
Movie streaming or songs do not have the same content restrictions, says Microsoft
Microsoft is not happy with these new rules and said that it will turn into a bad experience for the customers. Their spokesperson said that gamers prefer to jump directly into a game from their curated catalog within one app. They would not like to be forced to download over 100 apps to play individual games over the cloud.
Also, Apple does not force Netflix, Disney Plus, or Spotify to submit individual movie, TV show, or album via a separate app. It treats games differently in its App Store, with the company gaining a large amount of revenue from in-app purchases related to the games. Hence, Microsoft raised a point about streaming movies or songs not facing the same restrictions as games.
Unclear if xCloud will choose to work with Apple’s new cloud gaming rules
At present, it is not clear if Microsoft will or not rework xCloud to work with the App Store’s new rules. Apple’s peace offering, with the exceptions, will still help Microsoft and Google to open up to some form of game streaming if they are willing to work with these rules.
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If Microsoft follows Apple’s new suggestions, then every single game streamed on an iPhone or iPad from xCloud will be subject to App Store rules. It will also include the company’s thirty percent cut of in-app purchases. This cut is reportedly the central topic in the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games and has also caught the attention of the US and EU regulators.
Microsoft to launch its new game streaming service, to be available in 22 countries
Microsoft will be launching its game streaming service, formerly known as xCloud, as a part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate this week. The game streaming option will be available in 22 countries from September 15th. It will be available on Android smartphones and tablets at launch.
