What you need to know
- Microsoft says Apple doesn’t play fair with its stringent guidelines, which continue to prevent Xbox Cloud Gaming from coming to the App Store.
- The tech giant calls for more changes, including scrapping Apple’s In-App Purchase guideline.
- Apple claims that the highlighted issues aren’t preventing cloud gaming services from existing on the App Store, and further cites the success of other developers that it helped to achieve.
As a long-time follower of the tech world, I can’t help but feel a sense of deja vu as I watch this latest dance between Microsoft and Apple. It seems like these two giants are locked in an eternal game of chess, each making strategic moves to gain an edge over the other.
It appears that Microsoft and Apple often find themselves in competition. Initially, they were vying for supremacy in search technology. Microsoft signaled its readiness to spend up to $15 billion to replicate the deal Google has with Apple, making Bing the primary search engine across all Apple devices. However, Apple seems satisfied with their ongoing partnership with Google, disregarding Microsoft’s attempts, such as offering Bing for free.
Previously, gaming streaming services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming were exclusively accessible through web browsers on iOS devices. However, this has recently changed due to adjustments made by Apple in their App Store guidelines. Notably, Apple, who was labeled a gatekeeper by the EU, is now obligated to allow side-loading and third-party storefronts, thus fostering a more competitive environment within digital platforms. As an analyst, I am closely monitoring these developments to assess their impact on fair competition in the gaming industry.
By implementing new regulations, the European Commission opened up an opportunity for Microsoft to expand its Xbox Cloud Gaming service on iOS. Yet, Apple managed to find a loophole by imposing several obstacles, such as concealed tasks for developers constructing apps that don’t fully integrate with their ecosystem.
Microsoft Gaming President Sarah Bond expressed her disagreement with Apple’s new guidelines, stating they were moving in an unfavorable direction. She urged Apple to take user feedback into consideration. Consequently, both Microsoft and NVIDIA have yet to launch their cloud gaming apps on iOS devices. Microsoft has also voiced its concerns about these guidelines in a comprehensive explanation.
While making submissions to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the tech giant admitted that Apple has made several changes to its App Store guidelines. However, Microsoft stated the changes weren’t enough to natively support Xbox’s Cloud Gaming app on iOS (via The Verge).
Why is Xbox Cloud Gaming not available in iOS?
As per Microsoft, Apple’s latest App Store guidelines pose several obstacles that do not allow Microsoft’s Cloud Gaming app to operate on iOS devices. A primary hurdle, as pointed out by the company, is Apple’s mandate for Xbox Cloud Gaming content, subscriptions, and features to be accessible within an iOS app as an in-app purchase (IAP). This requirement is a significant challenge, according to Microsoft. Furthermore, the company expressed concerns about certain guidelines.
“In reality, Apple’s commission fee for In-App Purchases is not financially viable or reasonable. This 30% commission charge makes it challenging for Microsoft to generate substantial revenue from its cloud gaming service, as Guideline 3.1.3(b) restricts them from providing different content, subscriptions, or features (like in-game items in multiplatform games) to iOS users compared to what is offered on other platforms.”
According to the findings of the CMA’s Mobile Ecosystem market study, the 30% commission that Apple charges for In-App Purchases (IAPs) can be attributed to the limited competition in the distribution channel for native iOS applications.
Deep within their arguments, Microsoft implied that Apple’s excessive demands might push independent game creators to rewrite their games to align with the In-App Purchase (IAP) standard.
Microsoft has pointed out Apple’s rule limiting developers from linking outside an iOS app for subscriptions as a significant problem. To clarify, Apple only permits reader apps to connect externally, but cloud gaming apps don’t fall under this category. Apple explains that it has always prevented cloud gaming apps from utilizing its Reader Rule. Furthermore, Apple advises cloud gaming developers not to rely on this rule in their discussions about in-app transactions.
To clarify the issue at hand, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is examining the situation by examining how cloud gaming services are distributed within UK app stores. Various potential solutions and regulations could be enacted to tackle the identified problems, one of which involves broadening Apple’s Reader Rule to include Cloud Gaming apps. This adjustment would enable developers to use their in-app payment systems on iOS devices.
According to Apple, they assert that they have enabled Xbox Cloud Gaming within web applications, yet Microsoft has not reached out for discussions, even though Apple has revised their guidelines in multiple ways.
“It’s worth mentioning that although the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) mentions Microsoft’s concerns in their Working Paper, Microsoft has opted not to collaborate with Apple regarding cloud gaming applications since Apple updated their Guideline. This decision not to cooperate occurred even though Apple reached out positively about new possibilities and resources for cloud gaming apps on iOS.”
Apple asserts that it’s not their IPA guidelines that are hindering cloud gaming developers from launching their games on iOS. As a matter of fact, they recently highlighted a smaller developer named Antstream, who successfully launched their gaming streaming service on iOS this year.
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2024-09-04 12:14