Apple Updates App Store Review Guidelines to Allow Streaming Game Services That Submit Each Game to the App Store [Updated]

[4jasontv]

Anti-competitive laws exist because they generally benefit all companies & consumers instead of the select few. Imagine if Windows did not allow iTunes on their OS because they already had Windows Media Player. Apple might not even exist today.

Microsoft allows software because it was an early OS advantage. If they started as the only OS than they would never allowed it.

 

[jerwin]

Apple is not playing games! Strict policies coming ahead.

Games are defined by rules-- the more arbitrary the better.

 

[springsup]

I think this is mostly a marketing and data thing: Apple wants to say AAA titles like Gears of War are playable on iOS devices, and for people to search for and find that. They also want analytics about which games people are playing, and fewer “portal” apps so that the OS’s own launcher experience is used instead.

For example, I should be able to search for “Gears of War” on the home screen and jump straight in. I think that kind of thing is doable in movie streaming apps if you support some particular APIs, but I’m not sure.

In any case, this is a position you can negotiate from. What about if Microsoft made their game library searchable via the AppStore directly on the server side instead of submitting 1000 individual apps? What if special APIs could give a similar user experience to the one Apple is trying to protect?

 

[Abazigal]

This doesn't even make sense. xcloud service is for streaming console/PC games on your mobile devices. The games don't exist as native mobile apps, and it's not a competitor for something like Apple Arcade. Apple's statement makes me wonder if they're that out of touch with understanding what these services even are, or if they're just trolling at this point. It's not much different than allowing something like Microsoft Remote Desktop Mobile on iOS, really. As long as they're not directly selling a subscription or the games in the app itself, why would it matter? It's just a wrapper that's showing a remote display.

I think Apple’s actions show that they know exactly what is at stake were they to allow game streaming apps onto their App Store.

They don’t want a scenario where a user goes into the App Store to download Stadia or xCloud, then proceeds to do all their gaming within said app, and never download another game from the App Store ever again.

In the long run, this just means more developers will focus on bringing their games to xCloud, and maybe even skip iOS, if that’s where the users end up being funnelled into. They don’t want an IE scenario where the only use for said browser is to download Chrome.

It doesn’t bode well for the viability and vitality of the App Store. Apple wants the App Store to be home to all the apps, where they also get to vet and control which apps are allowed or banned on their platform. Else, imagine if you next get an app streaming app which allows users to access apps that would normally never be allowed on iOS, such as gambling or bitcoin.

One can argue - but apps like Spotify and Netflix already exist. Exactly. Apple didn’t hop onto the music streaming bandwagon until much later when it became clear that was where the industry was headed. With TV+, Apple has so far resisted purchasing a back catalogue of shows, relying instead on a small stable of original content to draw users into the TV app where they will hopefully go on to subscribe to other channels or purchase additional iTunes content.

I think given a choice, Apple would rather users continue to purchase music individually, than the current buffet-style business model. Apple has thrived by controlling every aspect of their ecosystem, and they are not going to give up this control so easily.

So while xCloud may be similar to Netflix in terms of tech (ie: both are streaming content from a server somewhere), the implications and impact on the overall health of the App Store is something that I find has largely gone undiscussed.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I hope Apple follows its own rules. Remove arcade from the App Store, make it its own app, and bring the updates tab back.
Then, if you have the arcade app on your phone, you can use it to link to every single game. Every game will have its own App Store page, so when you tap an app from the arcade user interface, it will open an App Store page where you can download it.

I believe all games in Apple Arcade are available as individual games within the App Store. Anyone know of any that are not?

 

[7149041]

It's just a wrapper that's showing a remote display.

That’s fine, but App Store probably requires software accessed via Remote Desktop(ish) tech to be personally licensed to the user. Which would eplain why I can play my PlayStation 4 games remotely (from my own console acting as a server) on my iPad.

Also, not so sure if the MS stuff doesn’t install some binaries for each game - that would mean unchecked code executing on your iOS device.

 

[KENPHOTO]

I commended this move, but I didn’t realize it was a 30% *per game* on a service. So for xcloud, each game we’d have to redownload and each game is subject to a 30% cut

That....doesn’t seem right at all. What it should be is download the xcloud app and boom access your game pass library

Apple is not trying t

I can think of three distinguishing features of Apple compared to console manufacturers:

- number of consumers who use their product
- importance of their products to daily life
- market power

Those are the issues that start to get the authorities interested, which they are, and which mean Apple may find it has less room to set unilaterally set the terms of access to its platform.

People really need to start realising that Apple has NO monopoly in any area, not hardware, not software. If people don't like the way Apple runs the App Store, they are more than welcome to purchase an Android phone. I really don't understand why people keep complaining about Apple policies. If I Ford and I wasn't happy with the way Ford handled my warranty, servicing, etc, then the next time I bought a car I would buy a different brand. Same here, no one is forced to use and Apple product.

 

[Trần Thiện Khiêm]

just makes a lot of sense. Everything still requires the App Store, as it should on an iPhone, but it does open a lot more flexibility.
Still won’t make Epic happy, but nothing Apple does will

Yes. It makes sense.
In this life you will not see Microsoft allowing you to stream PlayStation games, Google Stadia or Steam games on you XBox for free. So does Apple.

 

[Trần Thiện Khiêm]

So basically you don‘t have a clue what you’re talking about yet think you need to share your opinion.
So I feel free to tell you that my opinion on the matter is that Apple legal just sucks and is anti-consumer.

There is actually no fundamental reason other than greed and the fear of Apple Arcade becoming irrelevant. That’s it.

Oh, and before you start arguing about IAP remember that I can currently use the XBOX App on my phone to buy games from Microsoft’s marketplace.

OK. So will Microsoft let users to download an App on their xBox and stream all PlayStation games, Stadia and Steam games? Never.

 

[spotlight07]

If Apple TV store had been as successful as App Store, Netflix would be having to list each movie separately. Madness.

 

[Seanz]

Xbox live streaming has like over 200 games... do you want to download over 200 separate apps instead of one app that will let you choose your game? Not to mention HOW would you know what to find , if you have to go to an app anyway to see a list...

oh ...so you mean kind of like how users go to the App Store to download thousands+ apps already?

 

[4mat]

With folders, spotlight search, and the upcoming iOS 14 iPhone home screen changes I don’t see this being the biggest issue

 

[Prateek Singhal]

This is total non sense. People and Microsoft are comparing Netflix video content with Gaming content. Gaming content can include anything from background processing on phone. I think what Apple is doing here is best reasonable thing, it's the reason why they are soo good with their phone and platform, they exercise proper control and react to market needs

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

This is total non sense. People and Microsoft are comparing Netflix video content with Gaming content.

Don't be so quick to call things nonsense. Technically there is no difference between Netflix and Streaming games (as explained in this thread over and over already). It is just how you look at it. Netflix video content can technically also contain anything, because you can interact with the video content as well. From a technical point of view both are identical and from that light the new guidelines from Apple can be seen as inconsistent.

Of course if you want to look at it from another point of view your opinion may differ, but calling it nonsense is painting with broad strokes.

There are more ways to look at it.

 

[Kognito]

The best comparison I could make here would be the PS4 remote play app that I have occasionally used. It’s available on the App Store and allows pretty much exactly what MS are trying to do here albeit instead of streaming games from the cloud, you stream them from your PS4, either over the local network or over the internet.

I’m not sure how that is any different to xCloud? Apple is certainly not reviewing every PS4 game I have.

I presume the only reason they don’t care is that it involves the purchase of a PS4 and hence there’s a barrier to entry meaning it doesn’t pose much of a threat to App Store gaming revenues.

 

[cwwilson]

pretty sure people are going to try xcloud on their iphones for 2 weeks then stop because it isn’t that great of an experience

Agreed. We are probably 10 or 20 years away from being able to stream high quality games the way people are anticipating. I mean, if you have gigabit Internet or live next to a mmWAVE 5G tower you could possibly do it now but those are very specific, perfect conditions. That’s not something the bulk of the population can do and probably won’t be able be to do for the foreseeable future.

Think about it, most AAA games can’t even do 1080p60 on consoles without tricks or cutting down in other areas. Now there’s all the hype about the new consoles doing 4K60 and I just don’t see it. We’ve been lied to for years. I bet what we’ll get instead is 1080p games upscaled to 4K30 at best.

And now 8K TV’s are coming out as well and the technology just isn’t there to back them up. These companies are trying to ram things though that just aren’t ready yet for mass consumption. Over the air TV is what? 1080i? And most cable companies DVR boxes are 720p/1080i as well. There are like one or two specialized 4K channels, that’s it.

So while all this tech is cool and a glimpse into the future, that’s all it is. It’s basically a beta test of an idea, maybe cloud gaming can take off but for the moment I don’t think it’s going to work out. We need much more time to get the infrastructure in place.

 

[Abazigal]

I believe all games in Apple Arcade are available as individual games within the App Store. Anyone know of any that are not?

You can’t access those apps in the App Store if you are not subscribed to Apple Arcade. So you can think of Apple Arcade as a separate App Store within the App Store which is only accessible to subscribers.

 

[blackcrayon]

But why? It’s streaming content. Netflix, hbo, etc don’t have to submit each individual show and movie.

Yo Apple is out of their goddamn mind.
[automerge]1599879162[/automerge]

The "pearl clutching" over having individual app icons for games, just like we've had for the last 12 years for other games, is not a big deal to a consumer. Sounds more like whining than anything constructive. Yes, I'm sure if Microsoft doesn't use this method, they will be "saving us" poor iOS users from a poor experience and we can thank them

 

[Cosmosent]

Is this new ???

Tail-End of:

3.1 Payments

• 3.1.1 In-App Purchase:

Non-subscription apps may offer a free time-based trial period before presenting a full unlock option by setting up a Non-Consumable IAP item at Price Tier 0 that follows the naming convention: “XX-day Trial.”

 

[Marshall73]

i have used all other services since OnLive. my point still stands

xbox has the best implementation with latency so low to be unnoticeable. Unlike offerings from others.

 

[FreekieGeekie]

And what are those reasons? Because people seem very confused over what game streaming actually is.

Apple wants to screen everything. 😄. But that’s… not feasible, though, based on how streaming services are set up. Unless they convince all the damn developers to publish on the App Store, but then, that wouldn’t be streaming. So they said “yes,” but, they made it more of a deterrent for anyone to even attempt. 😄. I mean, if they do figure that out, bro, they can essentially skip the 30% cut, because your sub would be with someone else and your just sourcing the title from the App Store, which can be done for free. That’s tedious, though. But, maybe someone will figure it out. Because technically they said “yes”, it’s hella much, but they said yeah. 😄. What you think, bruh?

 

[farewelwilliams]

xbox has the best implementation with latency so low to be unnoticeable. Unlike offerings from others.

Stadia tech review: the best game streaming yet, but far from ready

Can Stadia tech out-muscle Xbox One X? How good is the streaming quality and what about the lag?

www.eurogamer.net

Project xCloud tested: has Microsoft really delivered a portable Xbox One?

The smartphone is a unique device. Billions of them are in active use around the world, all of them are capable of inte…

www.eurogamer.net

Stadia adds about +44ms of latency. Xcloud adds about +54ms. Xcloud is slower. I don't know where you're getting your data from. It sounds like you've never tried offerings from others.

 

[Bandaman]

Changing policies is what companies do when they see new idea come to market. They change policy to allow that technology to be adopted in a way that benefits everyone. Changing policy is good. The alternative is to say no to anything that isn't the way it used to be.

I didn't say policy changing is bad. I'm saying it needs to be consistent across the board. Their policy changes lately, however, seem to be very arbitrary. They're being inconsistent with their "policies" and allowing some companies to get away with things that others can't. This is a problem.

 

[adib]

This is total non sense. People and Microsoft are comparing Netflix video content with Gaming content. Gaming content can include anything from background processing on phone. I think what Apple is doing here is best reasonable thing, it's the reason why they are soo good with their phone and platform, they exercise proper control and react to market needs

Nevertheless, some Netflix content contains interactive elements and thus crossing into the "gaming" boundary – i.e. not "pure video".

 

[4jasontv]

I didn't say policy changing is bad. I'm saying it needs to be consistent across the board. Their policy changes lately, however, seem to be very arbitrary. They're being inconsistent with their "policies" and allowing some companies to get away with things that others can't. This is a problem.

I understand what you are saying now. I don't think bad is the appropriate way to describe it because it implies that Apple is doing something wrong. Apple has every right to have inconsistent policies. It may not help them generate more revenue in the long run, but I don't see it as bad. I think they have been to lenient as of late, and this has led to issues with specific developers.