After years of pushing back against game streaming apps, Apple has finally relented and announced that they will now allow these apps in the App Store. This is a major shift in policy for the tech giant, who has previously required companies like Microsoft and Nvidia to offer their game streaming services as web apps, rather than native iOS apps.
Game streaming has become increasingly popular in recent years, with services like Microsoft’s xCloud and Nvidia’s GeForce Now allowing users to play high-quality games on their mobile devices without the need for expensive gaming hardware. However, Apple’s strict guidelines for the App Store have been a major roadblock for these companies, forcing them to find workarounds in order to offer their services to iOS users.
Now, Apple has announced that they will allow game streaming apps in the App Store, as long as they adhere to certain guidelines. For example, each game included in the app must be individually submitted to Apple for review, and each game must also be downloadable directly from the App Store. This is in stark contrast to previous requirements, which required game streaming services to offer their games as separate web apps, distinct from the main streaming app.
This change in policy is a major win for companies like Microsoft and Nvidia, who have long been fighting for the ability to offer their game streaming services in a more user-friendly way on iOS devices. It also benefits iOS users, who will now have access to a wider range of gaming options on their devices.
In a statement to The Verge, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, said, “We absolutely support the creation of these services and the innovation they bring to gaming. We’re excited to help bring these experiences to our customers in a way that complies with this guideline.”
Overall, this shift in policy is a positive development for both game streaming companies and iOS users. It represents a more open approach from Apple towards game streaming, and paves the way for a more seamless and diverse gaming experience on iOS devices. It will be interesting to see how this change impacts the game streaming landscape in the coming months and years, and how it will shape the future of gaming on mobile devices.
