According to a recent report by 9to5Mac, despite Apple’s relaxation of its App Store Guidelines for cloud gaming apps, Microsoft has decided not to pursue the development of a native Xbox Cloud Gaming app for iOS devices. This decision comes as a surprise to many, given the potential for a broader audience reach through the iPhone and iPad user base.
Previously, Apple’s stringent requirements demanded developers to submit each game as a separate app on the App Store, a policy that Microsoft criticized for being a “bad experience for customers.” Although Apple has now made it easier for cloud gaming services to operate by allowing them to release a single app for their platform, Microsoft remains uninterested. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer expressed concerns over the monetization of Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS, suggesting that Apple’s proposal does not sufficiently open up competition on what he refers to as “the world’s largest gaming platform.”
This stance raises questions about the future of cloud gaming on iOS and how Microsoft plans to navigate its services on Apple devices. Currently, Xbox Cloud Gaming is accessible via Safari, with Microsoft encouraging users to save games to their iPhone’s Home Screen as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). However, the recent changes in the European Union regarding Home Screen web apps could further complicate this workaround.
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Image: Xbox
