Microsoft tried to launch its xCloud game streaming service on the App Store for iPhone and iPad users, but Apple rejected the app due to its strict guidelines. Now emails revealed in the Epic vs. Apple trial on Wednesday show that Apple even removed a similar app from the App Store after its existence was mentioned by Microsoft.
Microsoft began testing xCloud for iOS in February of last year in a private beta, and things were going well until the company decided to release the app on the App Store. For those unfamiliar, xCloud offers an entire catalog of games that can be played on any device over streaming.
Apple claimed that apps like xCloud cannot offer content that hasn’t been previously approved by the company, so the app was never released to the public. Microsoft, of course, tried to argue with Apple to change the company’s decision — as we can see from the emails revealed during the trial between Epic Games and Apple.
The Microsoft platform, previously called Project xCloud, can be defined as a video game Spotify.In this way, you will be able to select between the different games available in its incredible catalog with more than 100 titles to enjoy a top experience on any compatible device.
As noted by the Verge, Microsoft pointed out that Netflix is an app that offers access to multiple content that is not individually reviewed by Apple, and yet is available on the App Store. More than that, Microsoft told Apple about an app called Shadow, which lets users access their PC game library remotely from any iOS device.
Xcloud On Mac
- Microsoft's xCloud, the new cloud game streaming component a part of Xbox's Game Pass Ultimate, has officially launched for iOS devices like iPhone, iPad, and macOS. The xCloud doesn't require the.
- Community ran subreddit for Microsoft's cloud gaming service Project xCloud. With Project xCloud (Preview) players can play Xbox games on their mobile phone or tablet directly from the cloud, including favorites such as Devil May Cry 5, Tekken 7, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, and many more — no waiting for downloads.
- By Catherine Gluckstein, Vice President & Head of Product, Project xCloud. Apr 19, 2021 @ 7:00am Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window).
- When I play xCloud on my PC it's pretty much a smooth experience. It's not like playing a local game, obviously, but it's playable. However, using the same network, input lag is significantly worse on Mac and iOS, making impossible to enjoy any game.
Xcloud Mac Download
As a result, rather than negotiating, Apple quickly removed Shadow from the App Store.
Microsoft was trying to figure out how Shadow, Netflix, and other similar “interactive” apps were able to exist in the App Store while Apple was refusing to approve xCloud. Microsoft put forward Shadow as an example of such a service, only to see it suddenly removed from the store.
Apple later allowed Shadow to return to the App Store, but only because the app offers full access to a Windows PC, rather than being something specific to gaming (although the app’s main purpose was to let users play PC games on iOS). xCloud, on the other hand, had to be rebuilt as a web app to work on the iPhone and iPad.
In multiple occasions, Apple has taken a stand against apps that offer similar capabilities to the App Store and its own game service Apple Arcade. Last year, the company said that it allows streaming games on the App Store, but only if they’re submitted as individual apps. Aside from saying that it had no intention of prejudicing the Shadow app, Microsoft mentioned that Apple’s decisions related to game streaming on iOS result in a “bad experience for customers.”
This public spat has now boiled over into the courtroom battle between Epic Games and Apple, with lawyers on Epic’s side questioning Microsoft and Nvidia representatives about their struggles to bring cloud gaming apps to iOS.
It’s hard to imagine that this will change anything in Apple’s decision not to allow xCloud and other similar services on the App Store, but this will possibly have an impact on the court’s decision as the company has been under investigation for monopoly practices.
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After more than two months of beta testing, Microsoft is readying the launch of its xCloud Game streaming platform on Safari, Edge, and Chrome in the “next few weeks.” This comes after Microsoft had been pushing to bring xCloud to the App Store.
The company made the announcement today in a blog post about “bringing the joy and community of gaming to everyone.” Here’s what Microsoft said:
In the next few weeks, cloud gaming on the browser will open to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With Edge, Chrome, and Safari support, players will be a click away from gaming on almost any device.
Microsoft wanted to offer the xCloud Game platform as an app on the App Store, but since Apple policies don’t allow app stores inside the App Store, the Redmond had to scrap its plans last year.
In April, Microsoft announced it was going to open the beta test program of xCloud Game on web browsers. To enjoy the platform, users must be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber.
The public beta offered access to over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles. The official Game Pass has around 300 titles that are expected to work with xCloud Game without the need of a TV or a monitor, just a web browser on your iPhone and iPad, for example.
In the blog post, Microsoft also noted that “Cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will launch in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan later this year” as well.
With E3 starting this Saturday, Microsoft could be preparing to give more details about the xCloud Game at the conference.
Xbox Xcloud Iphone
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