Apple Restrictions Do Not Allow Microsoft and Facebook Online Gaming Services to Work on iOS
The war has broken out between Wall Street’s tech giants, with Microsoft and Facebook on one side and Apple on the other. Cause apple’s restrictions on iOS functionality for iPhones and iPads, which do not allow the online gaming services that the 2 companies have to operate on these devices.
Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that it would launch the xCloud gaming service on September 15 as part of a subscription service called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. However, the app, which allows users to switch to an Xbox game on their smartphone or tablet, will be available on devices supported by its Android operating system Google for mobile devices, while not compatible with Apple’s iOS operating system.
Microsoft also said it would no longer offer the limited trial version for the iOS app. Microsoft’s platform for Apple devices supports only one game, which Microsoft stressed is due to Apple’s App Store policies and does not allow it to launch on iOS due to these limitations.
Facebook, for its part, only today managed to release a version of its own iOS gaming platform. But social media pointed out that it was forced to make concessions to accept its platform in the App Store: it had to remove the ability to play games directly. The Facebook Gaming app, released on Google Play in April, allows users to create and stream live game content and is considered a competitor Amazon’s Twitch platform.
“Unfortunately, we had to completely remove the functionality of the game to get Apple’s approval for the standalone Facebook Gaming app – which means that iOS users will not enjoy the same experience as those who use it on Android,” said Facebook chief Sheryl Sandberg. “We remain focused on building the communities of 380 million users who play games on Facebook every month – whether Apple allows it to be a standalone application or not”
Apple has its own Apple Arcade + gaming service with which it wants to compete with the respective Microsoft, Google and Nvidia. The service includes a list of toys from Konami, Ubisoft and Lego. Microsoft had its own Twitch gaming service, Mixer, but recently decided to scrap it, encouraging users to switch to Facebook Gaming.