Apple to allow streaming games on the App Store, but Microsoft commented that following Apple would provide users with a 'bad experience'

It turns out that Apple has revised the App Store review guidelines to allow streaming games such as Microsoft's 'Project xCloud' and Google's 'Stadia,' which were previously disallowed. However, Microsoft states that following the guidelines will provide the app with a 'bad experience' for its users.

App Store Review Guidelines --Apple Developer
https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#streaming-games

Microsoft snubs Apple's olive branch to cloud gaming:'a bad experience for customers' --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/11/21433071/microsoft-apple-app-store-rules-xcloud-game-streaming-xbox-game-pass

Apple App Store new rules will affect Google Stadia, Microsoft xCloud
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/11/apple-app-store-new-rules-will-affect-google-stadia-microsoft-xcloud.html

On August 7, 2020, Apple announced that cloud gaming services such as xCloud and Stadia will not work on iOS.

Apple announces that cloud gaming services such as Project xCloud and Stadia will not work on iOS because they violate App Store guidelines-GIGAZINE

However, on Friday, September 11, 2020, with the release of iOS 14 imminent, it became clear that Apple revised the App Store review guidelines. With this revision, streaming games such as xCloud and Stadia, which were previously disallowed, are now allowed.

However, the guidelines stipulate that streaming games should be downloaded from the App Store for each individual game, that the App Store should be reviewed for each game update, and that all game purchases or in-app purchases should be made. It is done with Apple's payment system, which collects a 30% fee. ' It is allowed to create a catalog of games in the app, but in order to download the game, you have to go through the App Store once.

In addition, since there is a condition that 'each game must have basic functions as an app', in addition to enabling user reviews on the App Store, screen time and parental control will also be implemented for each game. is needed.

Microsoft said that services that provide content such as movies and music, such as Netflix, Disney Plus, and Spotify, do not need to be reviewed for each individual content update, and that only games are treated differently on the App Store. Pointed out. Microsoft told the news media, 'This is still a'bad experience'for consumers. Gamers want to download games directly from the in-app catalog, as they do with movies and music. , I don't want to download 100 apps separately from the cloud. ' In addition, Google is also developing a streaming service Stadia, but it is said that comments on changes to the guidelines of the App Store are not at the time of article creation.

Apple has long been pointed out that ' the 30% margin on the App Store is an exorbitant rip-off .' In addition, the popular battle royale game ' Fortnite ' has made it possible to make in-app purchases that bypass Apple's payment system, so the iOS version of Fortnite has been removed from the App Store, and it has become a proceeding. This revision is believed to be due to tensions in the relationship between Apple and the game companies.

Epic Games asks court to 'stop Apple's retaliation' to return Fortnite to the App Store-GIGAZINE

Microsoft started offering xCloud services for Android on September 15, and at the time of writing the article, it is expanding the service in 22 countries excluding Japan. In the statement, Microsoft did not mention whether to create an xCloud app that follows the guidelines.