Atti Abderrahim
Table of Contents
In January, Apple unveiled its plan to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Among the significant changes announced by the tech giant was the removal of restrictions on cloud gaming services. However, this promise has yet to materialize.
As of now, there is still no Xbox Cloud Gaming app available on Apple’s App Store. Microsoft’s game streaming service remains accessible only through a web app — essentially a website — on iPhone and iPad. The same applies to Nvidia’s GeForce Now service.
The Sacred Apple Commission
While web apps have their advantages and can be quite practical, they are limited in their access to iOS features and constrained by the capabilities of the web browser. So, why has Microsoft chosen this route instead of creating a “standard” app?
The answer lies in Apple’s long-standing resistance to allowing cloud gaming services on its App Store. Although Apple partially opened the door in 2020, the conditions were nearly impossible for operators to meet: each game available on streaming platforms had to be submitted as an individual app. This requirement would mean several hundred apps for Microsoft and thousands for Nvidia.
Under pressure from the European Union, Apple eventually relaxed this restriction worldwide, allowing these apps to stream all games in their catalogs. However, true to form, Apple introduced new rules that still prevent Xbox Cloud Gaming from being available on the App Store.
Microsoft Arguments and Apple Response
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently conducting a long-term investigation into the cloud gaming market. This investigation has provided Microsoft with an opportunity to explain why its service remains absent from Apple’s store. According to Microsoft, the changes made by Apple are insufficient to justify launching a native app for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Microsoft has identified two primary issues. The first is Apple’s guideline 3.1.3(b), which states that “platform services” must sell all content, microtransactions, and optional features through in-app purchases, subject to a 30% commission for Apple. Microsoft argues that this “Apple tax” is neither economically viable nor justifiable, making it impossible to effectively monetize its cloud gaming service. Additionally, developers would need to ensure that Xbox Cloud Gaming-compatible games are compatible with Apple’s payment system.
The second problem raised by Microsoft is that developers are still not allowed to freely communicate their paid options, subscriptions, and promotions within their apps unless they use Apple’s in-app purchases. These issues are the same ones Microsoft mentioned back in February, and since then, little has changed.
Apple, for its part, counters that Microsoft has not approached them to explore the new opportunities available for cloud gaming services. Apple cites Antstream, one of the few (if not the only) game streaming apps to have launched on the App Store after the new rules were established. Apple claims to have helped Antstream optimize subscriptions and even managed its public relations.
Xbox Cloud Gaming :The Road Ahead
The CMA is set to release an initial report in November, with a final report due early next year. The authority will then make recommendations for improving the cloud gaming market. It is possible that both Apple and Google may be compelled to make further compromises.
As the cloud gaming landscape evolves, it remains uncertain if and when services like Xbox Cloud Gaming will be fully embraced by platforms like the App Store. Until then, players looking to use these services on Apple devices must continue to rely on web apps, which offer a workaround, but not the seamless experience that a native app could provide.
Conclusion
The future of Xbox Cloud Gaming on the Apple App Store remains uncertain, but the pressure from regulatory bodies and the evolving digital market may force changes that benefit both developers and consumers. As of now, the road is still long and filled with obstacles, but each step brings us closer to a more open and competitive gaming ecosystem.
Source : The Verge
