The video game industry is none too pleased with Apple right now. In an attempt to extend an olive branch to streaming game services that were previously barred from the App Store, Apple has announced a new set of guidelines allowing game streaming services like Microsoft xCloud and Google Stadia on the platform for the first time. Many in the industry are up in arms over the new guidelines.
Apple’s old rules blocked these streaming apps from the App Store, which essentially means you can’t use them on iOS devices like the iPhone. In August, when Facebook launched its Facebook Games iOS app, the social media company voiced its displeasure at being unable to include, well, any games.
At the time, Apple explained that the company reviews app content before allowing it in the App Store. Being that these video game streaming services offer an ever-changing lineup of gaming titles, Apple’s position was these types of apps weren’t allowed in its App Store.
However, these streaming services are growing in popularity. So Apple has decided to update its guidelines and open the App Store doors to services like xCloud and Stadia. However and here’s the deal breaker according to the new rules, every game available on these services would need to submit to the App Store as a standalone app. The guidelines seem to totally defeat the purpose of these services.
A Microsoft spokesperson said, this remains a bad experience for customers. Gamers want to jump directly into a game from their curated catalog within one app just like they do with movies or songs, and not be forced to download over 100 apps to play individual games from the cloud.
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