Microsoft xCloud Game Streaming Service Launching on Safari in a 'Few Weeks'

[Unregistered 4U]

Apple should maybe have sought to form some sort of partnership with Microsoft so they both benefit.

But they both DO benefit. Microsoft gets their games on iOS devices and Apple’s users get their xCloud games on iOS devices.

 

[ArPe]

We 5 years away from proper streaming gaming anyway right now still jerks, lags and the pricing means we get limited choices of titles each month with full price for new games.

Should be a flexipay model so more you play more you pay. If you only play some old games for a few hours a month then you pay much less. If you a gaming addict or pro player of AAA titles then you pay more.

 

[genovelle]

I was invited to the Beta and have been testing this for the last month. It is very impressive but does suffer from stuttering and control input lag. Microsoft said this should be ironed out for the final release.

It was stupid of Apple to ask every single game in Game Pass to be reviewed when content changes frequently.

Apple should maybe have sought to form some sort of partnership with Microsoft so they both benefit.

I don’t believe Microsoft would allow arcade to run on their platforms so I think it should run in a browser. Period. If they allow any company to do it they will be force to allow all. Why would they want a competitor trying to undermine their platform inside of their platform anyway. Microsoft has stabbed them in the back more than once and is currently doing so in court precedings.

Thankfully, Apple is not falling for that okey Doke again. A partnership with Microsoft almost bankrupted them 30 years ago by stealing their tech and then beating them in court using a license that should have never been granted.

 

[V.K.]

If Apple was smart they would get behind this and encourage it, Microsoft can pick up where they are bad and make Apple's products even more compelling.

Heck I'd demo AAA games on the iMac at the next keynote and bring Microsoft out to brag about it. What now Intel?

This 100%. Apple is completely blinded by the dollar signs in their eyes on this issue. They are just hurting themselves and their users as the result. The fact that it's through safari rather than a native app is obviously not ideal but it just as obvious that Apple's price for doing it natively is beyond ridiculous. Apple should wise up and play ball with Microsoft and other gaming companies.

 

[69Mustang]

We 5 years away from proper streaming gaming anyway right now still jerks, lags and the pricing means we get limited choices of titles each month with full price for new games.

Should be a flexipay model so more you play more you pay. If you only play some old games for a few hours a month then you pay much less. If you a gaming addict or pro player of AAA titles then you pay more.

Which games require full price for new games? Most 3rd party games are coming day one to Game Pass and all of MS' games are day one on Game Pass. Even Sony's game MLB the Show came to Game Pass day one at no additional cost.

 

[cmaier]

This 100%. Apple is completely blinded by the dollar signs in their eyes on this issue. They are just hurting themselves and their users as the result. The fact that it's through safari rather than a native app is obviously not ideal but it just as obvious that Apple's price for doing it natively is beyond ridiculous. Apple should wise up and play ball with Microsoft and other gaming companies.

They obviously don’t think they are hurting themselves.

 

[V.K.]

They obviously don’t think they are hurting themselves.

I don't know how they can think that (if they do think it). By forcing Microsoft into a web based solution with their ridiculous demands they are getting 0$ revenue as the result while pissing off both Microsoft and their users.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

We 5 years away from proper streaming gaming anyway right now still jerks, lags and the pricing means we get limited choices of titles each month with full price for new games.

Should be a flexipay model so more you play more you pay. If you only play some old games for a few hours a month then you pay much less. If you a gaming addict or pro player of AAA titles then you pay more.

I don’t think any pro is going to seriously use streaming game services. They’ve got those huge LED laden machines in their rooms for a reason.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I don't know how they can think that (if they do think it). By forcing Microsoft into a web based solution with their ridiculous demands they are getting 0$ revenue as the result while pissing off both Microsoft and their users.

Microsoft is pissed… because their games will be on iOS devices? And, users are pissed… because their games will be on iOS devices? I’d think folks would be MORE pissed if the games WOULDN’T be available, but that’s just the way I think.

 

[britboyj]

These companies are not going to use IAP for the subscriptions, they'll just push people to sign up online and then they can just sign in.

They would have to have made it available.

 

[AttoA]

The problem here is that in the industry, Apple has knowingly held back Safari to push developers to make native apps.

So Apple knew they were pushing the developers to a less than ideal solution that they've purposely spent less time on.

This is what you call saving face. Apple gets to screw over 3rd party developers with a less than ideal secondary route while looking like the good guy to the public and avoiding Congress/DOJ from starting an anti-competitive investigation.

It's much worse than it actually looks.

Additional reading: https://infrequently.org/2021/04/progress-delayed/

I think you misunderstood my point.

I never claimed that Apple was in the right, that Safari is a viable alternative to the app store, or anything else of the sort. My only claim in the post is that Apple is not blindsided by this release, nor are they hugely displeased with its existence. The “help” I cited was just used as evidence for the above claim, nothing else. I only claim that Apple isn’t unhappy about it.

 

[69Mustang]

I don’t believe Microsoft would allow arcade to run on their platforms so I think it should run in a browser. Period. If they allow any company to do it they will be force to allow all. Why would they want a competitor trying to undermine their platform inside of their platform anyway. ?

Your assessment is wrong. Microsoft has already added EA Play streaming service to Game Pass and rumors have it they're looking to get Ubisoft Play added as well. They are also looking to add xCloud app directly to smart TV's.

They aren't forced to allow all. That's silly nonsense. Companies can choose who they partner with for business.

 

[V.K.]

Microsoft is pissed… because their games will be on iOS devices? And, users are pissed… because their games will be on iOS devices? I’d think folks would be MORE pissed if the games WOULDN’T be available, but that’s just the way I think.

Microsoft is pissed because web based gaming has limitations as compared to native apps. Users are pissed for the same reason since they are getting inferior user experience. Microsoft would much rather have xcloud available as a native app in the App Store but is not willing to pay the absurd price (both in money and control) that Apple is demanding for that. The result is the current situation: a workable but less than perfect solution.

 

[serkankocak]

I do support Apple‘s most decisions and I‘m very Apple in their ecosystem but requiring an AppStore entry for each game was absolutely ridiculous.

And when I first heard there will no xCloud app but a web based solution I was really disappointed.

Now that I’ve been using the beta for about two months I’m actually glad it’s web based as I can now game on my 2012 Mac mini or 2013 MacBook Pro as I think it would’ve been an iOS app only.

 

[Realityck]

How is Apple wrong? Multi billion Dollar companies want to use Apple Technology to make more money but not pay Apple while trying to move developers off Apple’s platform? Apple Arcade was never designed for hardcore gamers it’s designed for the other 98% of users.

Most multiplayer games are cloud based where you purchase the game once with optional customization purchases using micro-transactions. I certainly don't want to have anyone repeat all the arguments about EPIC, but there should have been sandboxed process that prevented software from being loaded to iOS/iPadOS ecosystem but allows a game VM or using the browser to run within the OS so that you could play these games. The subscriber access could still via the store, but it requires backing away from micro-transactions and allowing the subscription to provide all those game features similar to when you bought a game a few years back that was complete local install.

 

[eneisch]

I am part of the beta and coicndentally tried it out this morning on my 24" iMac using Safari. Actually worked pretty well. It's a nice free add-on to GamePas Ultimate.

 

[eqquito]

As people continue using Windows and Android more and more to play games and complaints start going into Apple's way because how much it platforms (iPhone/iPad) sucks for gaming we will see Apple changing its ridiculous policy.

I love Apple but recent decisions and this last VERY disappointing iPad update I am starting to question myself... Did I said I am also an Apple investor and the stuck sucks in the last few months?

 

[Okasian]

Microsoft is pissed because web based gaming has limitations as compared to native apps. Users are pissed for the same reason since they are getting inferior user experience. Microsoft would much rather have xcloud available as a native app in the App Store but is not willing to pay the absurd price (both in money and control) that Apple is demanding for that. The result is the current situation: a workable but less than perfect solution.

I think you fail to understand implementation technicalities and that’s okay. It's not like they can just put Halo, natively, on iOS.

It’s not just as simple as ‘Adding a AAA game to the App Store’ as most of those are DirectX based games, and would have to be re-written in Metal, OpenGL, other less AAA-gaming-relevant graphic libraries. (Edit: OpenGL is still relevant for AAA I think)

It’s in Microsoft’s interest to get xCloud to every kind of device, so generalising to every platform is preferable, rather than limiting themselves to an App Store with very limited monetization models.

HTML5 is really good now. So good that entire '''ReAL-TiMe''' streaming services are made from them. Native apps aren't necessary for this specific use case IMO.

The App Store and it's somewhat arbitrary policies (one rule for multinationals, another for lone devs) is incompatible with xCloud and that is fine. Microsoft can recoup more revenue by not paying the 15/30% and thus have a web-based gaming service in place for when low-latency 5G and 802.11ax w/ Gigabit Fibre becomes more ‘default’.

This is all future planning. Stadia also jumped the gun b/c Steam Link, Nvidia Sheild etc.

</thoughts>

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Microsoft is pissed because web based gaming has limitations as compared to native apps. Users are pissed for the same reason since they are getting inferior user experience. Microsoft would much rather have xcloud available as a native app in the App Store but is not willing to pay the absurd price (both in money and control) that Apple is demanding for that. The result is the current situation: a workable but less than perfect solution.

Hmmm, maybe YOU think that companies have some kind of almighty righteousness whereby, even though they ship a solution that makes both their business partner AND their customers happy, they remain angry about their… success? But, here in reality, companies work within their limitations, get assistance from their partners to bring their vision to life and… done. The only folks that will still be thinking about this in the future aren’t Microsoft, aren’t Apple, aren’t xCloud customers. Probably folks that are not affected in any way attempting define how Microsoft, that got what they wanted, is not happy about having gotten what they wanted.

Heck the Windows version will be streaming via a browser, yet an App is supposed to offer a superior experience… yet an app isn’t available for Windows. The ONLY folks that didn’t win in this, again, are those that wanted to see Microsoft come to blows with Apple.

 

[deevey]

What a cumbersome solution, to work around a virtually build barrier.
Apple sucks!

All MS had to do was submit the games individually in their own container to abide by the rules. This solution is easier in the long term for them and makes it cross platform.

MS used an innovative means to get what they want. No court cases, no drama. I applaud them.

 

[V.K.]

I think you fail to understand implementation technicalities and that’s okay. It's not like they can just put Halo, natively, on iOS.

It’s not just as simple as ‘Adding a AAA game to the App Store’ as most of those are DirectX based games, and would have to be re-written in Metal, OpenGL, other less AAA-gaming-relevant graphic libraries. (Edit: OpenGL is still relevant for AAA I think)

It’s in Microsoft’s interest to get xCloud to every kind of device, so generalising to every platform is preferable, rather than limiting themselves to an App Store with very limited monetization models.

HTML5 is really good now. So good that entire '''ReAL-TiMe''' streaming services are made from them. Native apps aren't necessary for this specific use case IMO.

The App Store and it's somewhat arbitrary policies (one rule for multinationals, another for lone devs) is incompatible with xCloud and that is fine. Microsoft can recoup more revenue by not paying the 15/30% and thus have a web-based gaming service in place for when low-latency 5G and 802.11ax w/ Gigabit Fibre becomes more ‘default’.

This is all future planning. Stadia also jumped the gun b/c Steam Link, Nvidia Sheild etc.

</thoughts>

I certainly understand that even if xcloud was allowed as a native app on the App Store individual games would be streamed and not developed for iOS natively. Nevertheless, during the Epic trial Microsoft testified that they tried for months to get a deal with Apple to have a native xcloud app into the App store because doing everything completely in a browser is limiting in a number of ways.
Nvidia said the same thing at the trial about their own attempts to get GeForce Now app into the App store. I will admit I don't know much about the exact nature of those limitations but I do know that
Microsoft and Nividia weren't doing this for ***** and giggles.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

doing everything completely in a browser is limiting in a number of ways.

But, Microsoft will be doing it in a browser on Windows. If there was a serious limitation in using a browser, wouldn’t Microsoft avoid a browser solution on the OS they control?

Looking at how the solution appears to work well via a browser, I would not be surprises if they were doing it to “make a point” understanding that they were ALWAYS going to deliver a browser solution. They just wanted to take a poke at Apple’s AppStore model as that does appear to be popular nowadays.

 

[cmaier]

Makes me wish i had time for games, still.

 

[reyesmac]

Apples strategy to slowly get everyone to be locked into offering software through it's walled garden where they can skim some profit off the top of every app sold will fail because the internet will get faster, browsers more powerful and internet standards so robust that you will be able to run full pro level apps and triple A titles from a browser. That will go around all of apples attempts to lock developers into a system that sees Apple getting a piece of the pie others made. The internet will derail their plans because its not getting slower and less complex. And when apps can run from a web browser just as well as on your computer, then any device will run Apps Apple won't allow in their App Store.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

Does anyone actually care about this? Cloud gaming is a gimmick. I still can't play a game without periodic lag from my PS5, hardwired in, and me sitting 5 feet from my router. Its definitely not going to be worth it coming from a remote server. Just buy a switch if you want portable console-style gaming

I have tried many streaming game services and all of the...as in ALL OF THEM pale in comparison to game installed locally. I own a XSX and GamePass ultimate. I have many iOS devices and Mac's....I will never use this because of the streaming aspect of it.