Microsoft: Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS isn't worth it

As Apple announced in January, cloud gaming apps are finally allowed on iOS — after providers have been clamoring for it for years. The question now is whether big gaming consoles will use the new option as well. As for Microsoft and its Xbox Cloud Gaming platform, the response has now been negative: a senior manager confirmed this in an interview.

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In the wrong direction

As Microsoft's head of gaming, Phil Spencer, told IT magazine The Verge, Change is not enough. “[Apple] “It doesn't go far enough in opening itself up to competitors.” According to Spencer, it's not possible to monetize Xbox cloud gaming on iOS. He echoed the comments of his colleague Sarah Bond, head of Xbox. She has said that Apple's new EU-app store rules went in the wrong direction.

“You could even say they're going in the opposite direction in some ways, but they certainly don't go far enough to open up competition on the biggest gaming platform in the world,” Spencer said. However, the new EU rules, which are widely controversial, have no direct relation to cloud gaming changes. These apply worldwide and not just in Europe – as does permission to distribute new widgets as chatbots. Why Spencer seems to confuse these two areas remains unclear.

“I'm a big fan of Windows”

Spencer announced that Microsoft will continue to work with the relevant regulators, Apple and Google (whose Android platform is larger than iOS), in order to “make room for alternative solutions.” [App-Läden]“He's a big fan of how Windows works and there's the Microsoft Store, Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG. “You have alternatives.” And it's always better for users to have options like this that enable “great things for customers and creators.” “It should be the same in the mobile sector “The largest gaming platform.”

With iOS 17.4, Apple is allowing gaming apps to be streamed globally in the App Store, allowing these apps to offer a selection of games within a single app. Previously, cloud gaming services were only available via the web interface, which made them inconvenient to use. More recently, Apple announced on Thursday evening that it would remove web apps on the home screen in Europe – justifying this with security problems that may arise from the launch of alternative web engines.

(Bachelor's)