Xbox Cloud Gaming Coming to iOS in Spring 2021

[MacRumors]

Microsoft has today announced that its cloud-based gaming subscription service, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, will be available to iOS users starting Spring 2021.

The announcement detailed that, as expected, Game Pass will not be coming to iOS via an app, but rather through a web browser.

In Spring 2021, we will take the next step in our journey to reach more players around the world by making cloud gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate available on Windows PCs through the Xbox app and browser, and iOS devices through mobile web browser. By adding over a billion devices as a path to playing in the Xbox ecosystem, we envision a seamless experience for all types of players; whether it's playing Minecraft Dungeons with your Xbox friends using touch controls on an iPhone, or jumping into a Destiny 2: Beyond Light strike on a Surface Pro when you have a break between meetings.

Earlier this year, plans to bring an Xbox streaming app to iOS stalled due to Apple's App Store rules, which forbid apps from streaming multiple games from the cloud via a single app. This is because Apple believes that its inability to review each game in the service's library is a potential security risk. Game Pass streaming would only be viable if each game was available as its own app under Apple's rules.

As Microsoft suggested earlier this year, using a browser instead of an app allows the company to avoid Apple's App Store rules while still providing the same service. Xbox chief Phil Spencer said that Apple "remains open to the user experience we would like people to see."

Microsoft's games streaming service is bundled as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $14.99 per month, with more than 100 games available.

Article Link: Xbox Cloud Gaming Coming to iOS in Spring 2021

 

[macsrcool1234]

no doubt a crappier experience compared to native, thanks to Apple's incompetence.

 

[Sakurambo-kun]

Really self defeating for Apple to block this being an app. It makes them look petty, small minded, and greedy.

All the Game Pass app does is allow people to stream from a subscription service, just like Netflix, Amazon etc. That's it. It's not a store, it's a streaming service. Apple need to remove their inflated head from the sand.

 

[Marbles1]

Apple continue to do nothing for gaming on their platforms; in fact they go out of their way to cripple the experience.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

no doubt a crappier experience compared to native, thanks to Apple's incompetence.

Apples incompetence? that is something u don’t hear too often. It’s even hard to say those two words together describing Apple. Now “Apples genius” is so much more common and flows like candy off the tongue.

 

[FasterQuieter]

Apple couldn't be more in the wrong here.

 

[Populus]

Good, but what about the macOS platform? Specially now that the M1 macs are so powerful. I want a universal app for mac, because it will always run better on a native application than on the web browser.

 

[diamond.g]

Good, but what about the macOS platform? Specially now that the M1 macs are so powerful.

If it works in a browser (unless the specifically block it) it should work on and Mac.

 

[0134168]

I wish the quality will not be disappointing.

 

[thequietaussie]

Sigh. The number of apps that now have big parts (or in this case, the entire thing) offloaded onto a website to side-step the IAP rules is ridiculous and cheapens the iPhone / iPad experience.

I wonder if they could offer companies like Microsoft the option to pay commercial rates for hosting the app on the app store without being subject to the IAP restrictions. That way people cannot complain that they're freeloading off of Apple, and users get the benefit of having basic functionality restored on a $1000 phone.

 

[EdRed]

Hopefully the Xbox wireless controller is officially supported by iOS by the time this service is available.

 

[napabar]

Hopefully the Xbox wireless controller is officially supported by iOS by the time this service is available.

Already has been since iOS 13.

Apple couldn't be more in the wrong here.

Go build your own platform. Then you can dictate whatever you like on it.

Really self defeating for Apple to block this being an app. It makes them look petty, small minded, and greedy.

All the Game Pass app does is allow people to stream from a subscription service, just like Netflix, Amazon etc. That's it. It's not a store, it's a streaming service. Apple need to remove their inflated head from the sand.

They seem to be doing just fine...your advice not withstanding.

no doubt a crappier experience compared to native, thanks to Apple's incompetence.

Incompetent all the way to 2 Trillion.

 

[Populus]

If it works in a browser (unless the specifically block it) it should work on and Mac.

I know, I wasn’t asking for a mac browser playable service, I know macOS has a browser called Safari. I was asking for a native app on the mac. It is not possible on iOS iPadOS because it is a walled garden. Well, make it possible on the mac with a universal app.

 

[User 6502]

Good, but what about the macOS platform? Specially now that the M1 macs are so powerful. I want a universal app for mac, because it will always run better on a native application than on the web browser.

You don’t need much power to stream games. It’s not dissimilar to streaming films on Netflix.

 

[EdRed]

Already has been since iOS 13.

Not for the new wireless controller. At least not officially. The Xbox Wireless Controller product page reads "iOS support coming in the future.*"

 

[hotdwag]

Wonder how different performance will be between a native app and browser based application. Not exactly the same, but use Rainway through chrome to stream from my desktop PC with good results on LAN using WebRTC (I believe?) I've tried Nvidia GeForce Now as well on macOS with good results.

Would apple have been smarter in making some type of deal with Microsoft instead of being side stepped in some respect? Probably. While Apple does well with casual and mobile gaming, they have always had a weird relationship with AAA games. xcloud and other streaming services is a net benefit for iOS and macOS, it would probably help sales if they embraced.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Watch Apple try to block this.

 

[JCCL]

"Life finds a way". Too bad that due to Apple putting ridiculous policies not relevant to the current market to block competition, companies have to use workaround to give a valuable offering to their customers.

Looking forward to this, as a Xbox Series X, Surface Pro and iPhone user, at least I'll have the native app in the Surface.

 

[Appleman3546]

It does not make sense that Apple denies Gamepass because the ESRB reviews every game on xbox, so Apple thinks it knows better than the ESRB. In fact, one could argue that the ESRB or similar organization should be involved in the Apple review process of games as an independent organization. It is baffling that Apple is permitted to allow games on the app store without an ESRB rating, even if it does want to add it's own review process after/before an ESRB rating.

It also does not make sense that Apple denies Gamepass because a user can download a game to their xbox via an iPhone game pass app already and then play it from their xbox in the other Xbox iPhone app already. Apple is simply eliminating A -> C, not A -> B -> C.

Furthermore, how is it that the Mac can be more secure than the iPhone because the Mac allows browser downloads but the iPhone does not?

 

[Manzanito]

Apple gets to keep their app store terms intact, but looses whatever % Microsoft were willing to share, Microsoft gets to keep all the income but offers an inferior product, and the consumer gets stuck with a presumably worse experience.

I dunno, I can’t help thinking they could have figured out a way to make this work for everyone.

 

[ozzymo]

Already has been since iOS 13.


Go build your own platform. Then you can dictate whatever you like on it.


They seem to be doing just fine...your advice not withstanding.


Incompetent all the way to 2 Trillion.

Gotta love this kind of thinking. Just because they are the wealthiest company in the world means that everything they do is right. Forget the fact that Netflix and Hulu don't have to upload every single show for Apple to "review" because Apple was scared of going up against Netflix. The cult is strong in this one!

 

[ozzymo]

It does not make sense that Apple denies Gamepass because the ESRB reviews every game on xbox, so Apple thinks it knows better than the ESRB. In fact, one could argue that the ESRB or similar organization should be involved in the Apple review process of games as an independent organization. It is baffling that Apple is permitted to allow games on the app store without an ESRB rating, even if it does want to add it's own review process after/before an ESRB rating.

It also does not make sense that Apple denies Gamepass because a user can download a game to their xbox via an iphone game pass app already and then play it from their xbox in the Xbox app already. Apple is simply eliminating A -> C, not A -> B -> C.

Furthermore, how is it that the Mac can be more secure than the iPhone because the Mac allows browser downloads but the iPhone does not?

Apple thinks it knows better than the entire world. And this has more to do with $ and competition. Who in their right mind would subscribe to Apple Arcade and play all those throwaway kiddie games if you could get a real game subscription like Xbox Game Pass. Also of course Apple doesn't like the fact that it wouldn't be getting their juicy 30% cut of every game that would be played through xbox game pass. Now Apple will get nothing since it won't be going through the app store. With that in mind, this sounds like a pretty good trade off to me.

 

[Populus]

You don’t need much power to stream games. It’s not dissimilar to streaming films on Netflix.

Well, I prefer to execute an app rather than use a website. That’s my case for Discord, for instance, I prefer having an App rather than using it on a tab on Safari. And I will try to download the Amazon Prime or Netflix app to my M1 mac, because for me, a native app >>> a Safari app. Maybe Im the only one who thinks this way. It is not about power, it is about convenience.

 

[ozzymo]

Well, I prefer to execute an app rather than use a website. That’s my case for Discord, for instance, I prefer having an App rather than using it on a tab on Safari. And I will try to download the Amazon Prime or Netflix app to my M1 mac, because for me, a native app >>> a Safari app. Maybe Im the only one who thinks this way. It is not about power, it is about convenience.

Of course apps are a better experience than websites or web apps. But, I really do wish more companies would start going down this avenue. If more and more companies started using web apps and sidestepping the App Store and Apple's cut then maybe, just just maybe Apple would have to start changing. As it stands now they have no reason to and will never relent because of all the billions and billions they are making through the App Store. I would gladly start using web apps for any company that offered it just knowing that all of my money would be going to that company instead of Apple.

 

[diamond.g]

I know, I wasn’t asking for a mac browser playable service, I know macOS has a browser called Safari. I was asking for a native app on the mac. It is not possible on iOS iPadOS because it is a walled garden. Well, make it possible on the mac with a universal app.

Why go through the extra effort if it works in a browser?