Looking towards the following month this September, Xbox players will be able to indulge in some of their favorite titles on the platform anywhere with Project xCloud. The cloud-based initiative allows users to stream the platform to their smart devices and play high-intense games alike you would find from a physical unit. However, the platform is currently limited to Android-powered devices for the time being.
Although Microsoft had ambitions to pursue bringing Project xCloud to iOS products as well – even launching a TestFlight for the service – the firm recently dismantled the program for Apple tech. In that, Microsoft revealed some App Store policy is hindering Microsoft from properly developing Project xCloud to Apple’s fleet of devices.
Microsoft effectively told that the preview ended this week, insinuating development for iOS is halted until further notice. Now in a new statement made by the firm, the company elaborates further on the matter.
Our testing period for the Project xCloud preview app for iOS has expired. Unfortunately, we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store. Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. And it consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content.
All games available in the Xbox Game Pass catalog are rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents. We are committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to the iOS platform. We believe that the customer should be at the heart of the gaming experience and gamers tell us they want to play, connect and share anywhere, no matter where they are. We agree.
However, despite the hurdle that is currently in front of Microsoft, there is a possible work around for Project xCloud for iOS. The Verge elaborates that alike with Shadow, a cloud streaming service, the firm could offer a remote compute “host device” which despite not being connected to the user’s respected device does align with the App Store policy refraining Microsoft currently.
Additionally, Facebook has shared to be on Microsoft’s side of the argument as the firm told The Verge elsewhere that it was forced to close its mini game feature due to the instated policy. “Unfortunately, we had to remove gameplay functionality entirely in order to get Apple’s approval on the standalone Facebook Gaming app — meaning iOS users have an inferior experience to those using Android.”
For the time being, there is no definite answer as to if Project xCloud will ever come to iOS. While Microsoft does share to be ambitious in finding an alternate path later on, for now it is off the table. With there still options to innovate the service for the platform, we will leave the announcement for time to tell later on.
Do you plan on using Project xCloud on Android?
