Microsoft and Facebook Object Apple’s Approach on Streaming Game Services

• Microsoft and Facebook are fed up by Apple’s App Store restrictions, and they’re calling the practices out.
• The tech giants feel that they’re victims of an unfair approval system used selectively by Apple.
• Apple maintains that they’re making no exceptions for anyone, not even for their own services.

Apple will approve neither Microsoft’s xCloud nor Facebook’s Gaming app on the App Store, no matter how many times the two tech giants will try to get through the restrictions. Apple has made it clear that according to the App Store policies, which are the same for everyone, streaming game services are explicitly prohibited.

However, Microsoft and Facebook feel that this is just a move from Apple to protect its “Arcade” service and that it’s basically a sign of unfair competition practices. This is an accusation that Apple faced many times this year, but the firm stood on solid ground to defend its rights every time.

Microsoft is so infuriated by this that they decided to share a statement with The Verge, saying that “Apple stands alone as the only general-purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass.”

They see this as a flat denial to let consumers enjoy the benefits of emerging technology, and they even accuse Apple of an unfair treatment since some interactive content services are included in the App Store nonetheless. With the testing period margins for iOS expired now, Microsoft officially declares that they abandon all hope and effort to bring Project xCloud on iOS.

These statements blew wind onto the sails of Facebook, who decided to join the rant against Apple by saying that its “Gaming” app was rejected numerous times on grounds of violations relevant to the 4.7 rule. To finally get Apple’s approval, Facebook just removed all “Instant Games” from the “Gaming” app and kept only the software’s social aspect. Even when Facebook followed the official appeal path, they say Apple never bothered to even respond.

As for Google’s Stadia, no exceptions are made there either. The app’s description makes it very clear that iOS users cannot use the software to play games directly on their devices. The Stadia app on the App Store is only meant to help them manage the game streaming service on other devices.

Source: App Store

Apple says that not even they are breaking the rules, since Arcade games aren’t streamed but instead have to be downloaded locally. They declare that any competing gaming service is welcome on the App Store as long as it abides by the rules.

“Our customers enjoy great apps and games from millions of developers, and gaming services can absolutely launch on the App Store as long as they follow the same set of guidelines applicable to all developers, including submitting games individually for review and appearing in charts and search.”