Hands On: Testing Fortnite on iOS Using GeForce NOW

[Wildkraut]

If Safari is optimized or not for 3D, it doesn't matter. GeForce now is just sending a video stream, like a YouTube video, but live and interactive. For Apple to cripple this, they'd basically have to cripple web based streaming video, which seems like a bad idea.

A browser based game engine would be a great idea though, because then the game would truly run locally, and could easily be sideloaded.

It’s not just a video stream, it’s more than this, keeping it synchronized is not an easy task, specially when the browser engine and internet connection sucks. Anyway crippling it, and leaving the normal video stream intact would be easy for Apple. Through PrivateRelay deep package inspection, domain blocking or traffic shaping even easier.

 

[erikkfi]

I hope this is the first of many efforts to deliver something technologically advanced within the confines of the artificially-hobbled mobile Safari.

 

[Wildkraut]

I honestly don’t understand how anyone can play an FPS on a phone with tiny screen and touch controls, or play an FPS using streaming of any kind with all the lag and artifacts. I can’t even play FPSs well using PS remote play locally on Ethernet, let alone to a remote PC over Wi-Fi. This game is much more suited for a console or pc anyway

Well, there is a bit of auto-aim for this, and not everybody plays FPS to purely win all the time like a pro gamer. Many people play it just for fun and to let the time fly a bit.

 

[Jonathan2019]

If Safari is optimized or not for 3D, it doesn't matter. GeForce now is just sending a video stream, like a YouTube video, but live and interactive. For Apple to cripple this, they'd basically have to cripple web based streaming video, which seems like a bad idea.

A browser based game engine would be a great idea though, because then the game would truly run locally, and could easily be sideloaded.

I created a client side desktop browser based visual programming language that uses and creates WebGL games. Since I designed the interface with touch based actions in mind you could theoretically run the whole thing on an iPad. Also games could be made for iOS on the desktop by using selection polygons for the mouse. On my website there are no iOS supported games (All games are free BTW) but that can change if there is interest . www.solarfusionsoftware.com

On another note, from what I understand, WebGL 2 is deprecated (it seems the browsers have changed their minds since the last time I checked and are now supporting it).

 

[SigEp265]

Sideloaded would be better.

Sideloading apps I already paid for, but have been removed from the damn store, would be great. Or a refund at least ?! One benefit of android.

 

[SigEp265]

Sideloading apps I already paid for, but have been removed from the damn store, would be great. Or a refund at least ?! One benefit of android.

Luckily I used to download all my apps through itunes and you can sideload on older devices with the right software. BUT I don't feel I should have to do that with apps I ALREADY PAID FOR.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

There is no 3D happening here, it’s a video feed being sent from a remote PC doing all the rendering. Browser should be identical to a native app when using a controller, the on-screen controls may not be as nice in html/css.

I don’t even understand why anyone would think there’s 3D happening here. And, if so, how? The remote server is sending draw commands, which would be a MUCH heftier payload meaning much greater latency, to the browser? Might be interesting for a tech demo, but that’s about it.

Some folks will indeed go to great lengths to be upset with Apple over anything.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Fortnite not available on iOS? No problem. I have Android phone. Even if Google bans on its Play Store, I can always sideload.

The flexibility of Android is why I will not be Apple exclusive. I will continue buy iPhone, but I will never give up on Android.

That's the right approach. Brand loyalty for the sake of brand loyalty is useless. We should all buy whatever works for what we need.

 

[Wildkraut]

Luckily I used to download all my apps through itunes and you can sideload on older devices with the right software. BUT I don't feel I should have to do that with apps I ALREADY PAID FOR.

Shhttt! At Appleversum you are not allowed to complain.

Be happy that you have been granted to spend money at new games they’ll remove later.

/s

 

[DFZD]

I just realised that you can downvote replies but not an actual post.

 

[nastysailboat]

Sideloaded would be better.

The game probably runs better on GeForce then it would natively on the phone

 

[dwaite]

Well, it kinda works but lags, simply because Safari isn’t optimized for 3D.


It’s just a matter of time till Apple uses it position to gatekeep the browser, too.
They will stop optimizing Safari(webkit) for 3D, and sabotage the performance of browser based streaming games that way, and probably even slow down the traffic going through PrivateRelay.

This uses cloud rendering on Nvidia cards, not local 3D rendering on safari.

 

[Born2Run]

Shame on you Apple.

I know... Shame on you Apple, you need to find a way to stop this dumbass game from being played in any way on iOS!

 

[ChrisA]

This is the way around ALL of Apple's restriction, the apps that and payments. If you app is web-based it runs on ANYTHING.

As it turns out most of the apps we used could very well be web-based. the only reason they are apps is
1) because you can charge money for apps but peole don't want to pay for web pages and
2) the app store gets a lot more exposure to users than does a random web page.

Look at Apple web-based office suite and Google Docs. You can do a lot with a web based app.

But in this case, (1) users will pay for the web if they really want the content and (2) this game does not need 'exposure" so it wil work as a web app.

Looks like Apple losses all of their cut. They make zero money on web apps. I think more companies will follow this and move out of the app store

 

[ChrisA]

...Apple would have to make all 3D features available with 100% the same performance through the browser...

There are other browsers for IOS. Google's Chrome comes to mind.

If Apple cripples Safari to keep games in the app store then the user installs Chrome.

 

[Wildkraut]

There are other browsers for IOS. Google's Chrome comes to mind.

If Apple cripples Safari to keep games in the app store then the user installs Chrome.

Nope, they all have to use WebKit, Apple does not allow alternative Browser Engines.
Edge, Chrome, Firefox, etc. on iOS are just alternative UI’s wrapped around Safaris WebKit.

 

[TVreporter]

Guess it could be the future for gaming for developers who don’t want to pay.

My son has Fortnite on his Switch - I swear I play it more than he does - it’s a fun way to kill some time. Ironically he’s moved onto Roblox on my iPad which Nintendo doesn’t allow on the Switch.

 

[Aoligei]

That's the right approach. Brand loyalty for the sake of brand loyalty is useless. We should all buy whatever works for what we need.

Brand loyalty is just silly. If one day iOS no longer fits my need, then I will drop iPhone and pick up Android. If one day I wishes to have iPhone experience, then I am gladly take out my iPhone 12.

I don't feel like I want to be restricted into Apple's Walled garden. Maybe I am the minority here in this forum, but I feel ability to access both platform is very important.

In fact, I am tired of iOS and Android duopoly, I wish there is third platform that is equally great.

 

[JustinKent]

There are other browsers for IOS. Google's Chrome comes to mind.

If Apple cripples Safari to keep games in the app store then the user installs Chrome.

Apple has a rule that all browsers must use WebKit for their rendering engine, so under the hood, Safari and Chrome (and all iOS browsers) are similar / bordering on identical.

Having said that, there's no practical reason that Apple would intentionally cripple Safari... or any experience on their platform, for that matter.

Why indulge in conspiracy theories when the truth is simple to find by following the money? Generally, better experiences = happier customers = more sales. In the case of Fortnite, Epic shut off the flow of cash and Apple followed suit. It's really no more complicated.

 

[mjtomlin71]

Well, it kinda works but lags, simply because Safari isn’t optimized for 3D.

It’s just a matter of time till Apple uses it position to gatekeep the browser, too.
They will stop optimizing Safari(webkit) for 3D, and sabotage the performance of browser based streaming games that way, and probably even slow down the traffic going through PrivateRelay.

It‘s about time for third-party browser engines through sideloading.
Browser Game streaming in its current form is not a decent workaround gatekeepers.

Luckily the final judgement hasn’t been spoken, yet.

Yeah, that’s not going to ever happen. Having an extremely fast and standards compliant browser on your platform is a major draw and Apple has been committed to supporting and pushing open web standards for almost 20 years now. Apple is not going to cripple technologies that are useful in many other areas just to handicap playing web-based games.

 

[nawk]

Nice review Dan - would like to see more content like this.

 

[mjtomlin71]

 

[sparky1499]

GeForce Now on iOS and iPadOS = laggy unplayable junk. That’s on a gigabit internet connection, 2021 iPad Pro and Sony DualShock 4 or Xbox Series S/X controller.

Using Gamepass Ultimate Cloud gaming FPS and racing games are unplayable. Stellaris is playable but anything else, forget it.

 

[notabadname]

Fortnite will go the way of so many prior games that become “old” and no longer relevant. Angry Birds, Clash of Clans, Sims, Deadspace, Pokeman Go - the list is far longer. A 70% take on millions of more customers is way more valuable than the irrelevance they are soon going to face. They chose to get themselves removed from one of the largest markets in existence. They will soon be forgotten by the next fad in mobile gaming.

 

[gene731]

Sideloaded would be better.

Android allows that side loading thing.