Exactly, if I was a company developing apps for the Mac today I would really look at what is going on with iOS. I think we are maybe 2 or 3 new macOS versions away from a Mac walled garden. Apple is heading down that direction. They would love nothing more than macOS and iOS and iPadOS and everything to be combined in one big beautiful Apple walled garden where they control everything and act as Gatekeeper collecting their toll. I think web apps are they way to go for any developer that can get their program to work on them. In the end, it is a lesser experience for the end user, but Apple is the one driving that approach.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Coming to iOS in Spring 2021
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I would prefer to user gaming services on Apple TV, but there is no Safari browser on Apple TV. Most Xbox games are not optimized for tiny screens.
If you're wanting to play on a tv wouldn't you just use the Xbox? Wouldn't anyone who has an Xbox game pass also have an Xbox? I thought Xbox game pass was for on the go mobile play? When you're at home playing on your nice, big television I thought people would be using either the Xbox One or Xbox Series X to do that. That would provide a much superior experience than using any Apple device.
Populus
macrumors 604
Then why bother with a Discord app if it works on a browser? Why go through extra effort making a suite of Office apps if it works on Safari tabs? Hell, why even have apps if we can have one tab for each software or service?
Sorry, that doesn’t work for me.
diamond.g
macrumors G5
The xbox app remote play is supposed to be local only.
Do we even know Apple allows game streaming apps in the Mac App Store? I don't see a Stadia or GeForce Now app.
Microsoft is changing its focus on providing a services rather than hardware. Also, I want to switch between different gaming
services without buying hardware for each service. Especially if the services only need minimal hardware because it is streamed. The Xbox hardware is mostly needed for playing games without streaming.
I can watch Prime Video without on my Apple TV. I don’t need separate Fire TV hardware.
I don’t have enough hdmi inputs to connect an Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Fire TV stick, Chromecast, and Nvidia Shield to use Xbox games service, PlayStation Now, Luna, Prime video, Stadia, Google play, and GeForce now.
Maybe Roku can make hardware that supports all services.
How are they changing their focus to services rather than hardware when they just came out with a brand new Xbox that is sold out everywhere and scalping for thousands of dollars? Apple has never and will never be known for gaming. An Apple device will never provide a better gaming experience than a dedicated console from Microsoft or Sony. Sure AppleTV is great for video streaming; I use it for Hulu and other apps. But an AppleTV or any Apple device could NEVER come close to a dedicated gaming console. Just look at the games on Apple Arcade vs games on Microsoft and Sony consoles.
The gaming companies aren't the ones making that decision that is Apple. Imagine all the games on a streaming gaming service. Now imagine being Microsoft or Sony and having to upload each and every game so that Apple can give their blessing. Now imagine Netflix or Hulu having to upload each and every show individually for Apple's blessing. Microsoft would love to make their app available in the App Store, but it would be an asinine decision if they had to upload each and every game separately to Apple for approval. Plus Apple would take AGES to approve every single game available through the streaming service.
69Mustang
macrumors 604
Game Pass, particularly Game Pass Ultimate, is independent of the console. It's built to work on the hardware you have, regardless of what it is. PC desktops and laptops, Android phones, Android tablets, Chromebooks, and with sideloading nVidia Shield and the new Chromecast with Google TV.
Regardless of the device used, the quality of the internet service is going to affect how good the experience is for the user.
On Mac they don't have to go through the Mac App Store (for now). But I am sure they are smart enough to see the writing on the wall. They could spend development time and money and make a standalone Mac app and then couple years from now Apple could close off macOS and bring it into the walled garden also. Better to just go all in on web apps and not be subject to Apple's every (constantly changing) whims.
Yea I understand. I just assumed that everyone who subscribed to Xbox game pass would have an Xbox. I can understand if you are not at home, then you would want to play on an iPad or iPhone. But if you are home in front of your television, I can't imagine saying hey instead of playing on my xbox I'm going to play on my Apple TV. I love my AppleTV for Plex, Hulu, Amazon Prime but I never thought hey this would make a great gaming console.
I don’t have an Xbox and I am not committed enough to the platform to spend $300 for a series S. I would like to use the service from time to time though.
I cycle through video steaming services as well. Rather than subscribing to all services all the time, I change my subscription each month. I watch all the shows I want on that service and then I change to the next service.
Since these services only need low power generic hardware because all the processing is done in the cloud, I expect that people will start using gaming services the same way they use video services.
japasneezemonk
macrumors 6502
Dumb question, but is having a native app really going to help give the users a faster/better gaming experience?
Currently I use Google Stadia, which I love (I'm not spending $400-$500 on a console I'll use once every 6 months). My internet is decent with about 200Mbps down.
However, I still get visual artifacts, choppiness, and latency. I can't imagine hard core gamers who care about super fast response times being on board with the current technical limitations of these services given that the foundational requirements aren't there yet for most users.
Given all these kinks that have yet to be ironed out, would having a Native app that is still streaming everything from servers going to make much of a difference for game play? Will it feel like the game is being played is on the device and not streamed?
(I don't mean overall user experience which matters, but if playing the game sucks everything else is just a band-aid)
Currently I use Google Stadia, which I love (I'm not spending $400-$500 on a console I'll use once every 6 months). My internet is decent with about 200Mbps down.
However, I still get visual artifacts, choppiness, and latency. I can't imagine hard core gamers who care about super fast response times being on board with the current technical limitations of these services given that the foundational requirements aren't there yet for most users.
Given all these kinks that have yet to be ironed out, would having a Native app that is still streaming everything from servers going to make much of a difference for game play? Will it feel like the game is being played is on the device and not streamed?
(I don't mean overall user experience which matters, but if playing the game sucks everything else is just a band-aid)
Ok in that case it makes sense if you don't intend on owning a dedicated console. But you can thank Apple that you won't be able to play any games through streaming services on the AppleTV. Obviously that's the way Apple wants it as they would prefer you to only play games on an AppleTV through Apple Arcade. I don't blame Microsoft or Sony for not bowing down to Apple and doing an idiotic thing as agreeing to upload each and every single game separately to Apple so Master Apple can decide to approve each one.
69Mustang
macrumors 604
Respectfully, you're only imagining from your perspective and it's pretty narrow. Got family? Now imagine someone (the wife) wants to watch Netflix on the big TV that happens to have the XBOX attached, but you want to game, and someone else want to play another game. We all know ain't nobody playing on that XBOX while the movie is streaming. With Game Pass, you can play on your laptop in your office, someone else can play on their desktop in their bedroom. You get the idea. More over, most homes contain only one console. Everyone in that home doesn't want to play the same games at the same time. Game Pass solves that.
@Jzvm is right, MS is changing their focus to gaming services. They're preparing for the present and future at the same time. The present is the new Series S/X. The future is gaming MS services in every ecosystem utilizing the hardware in those ecosystems. A console is a one time purchase like a TV, and probably the last one from MS. A gaming service is reoccurring revenue. MS realizes that a console for gaming really won't be necessary in the future. They want that service everywhere: https://mobilesyrup.com/2020/10/23/...gaming-tv-streaming-stick-new-game-pass-tier/
diamond.g
macrumors G5
So the issue is back to Apple not allowing native game streaming apps.
Yea I can understand those points of view. I just disagree that there will ever be a time where consoles are not needed. The cloud will continue to grow of course as will cloud gaming. But I don't see a future at least not in my lifetime where internet infrastructure will ever be sufficient to take away the need for consoles. Anyone who lives outside of mega cities like Los Angeles or New York will not see sufficient internet access any time soon. Plus what about internet caps. Those are ever increasing especially in the US. All these future games played in the cloud plus all other video streaming apps and you would be over your cap in no time. I had to live with a Comcast cap for years until I was lucky enough to move and now have Frontier fiber with no limits. Plus any game played in the cloud is a game you do not and will not ever own. That access can be taken away at any time for any reason by the publisher. I love playing older games with my young son. Games that I own on cartridge and disc. Games that we can play long, long after they are no longer for sale physically or able to be played through a streaming app. I know I don't speak for everyone, but there are a lot of people, probably more than we know who feel the same way and want to own their games instead of rent them and only play when the publisher allows. I can definitely see a place for cloud games, but I can also always see a place for physical games and consoles.
MrDerby01
macrumors regular
Question.. If I make an app and put it on my website for download.. What stops me from offering it users who use MacOS? I don't understand how this could possible effect MacBook Pro users. I get it you can't post in the official store or Apple Store. But. I'm missing the part of why I can't make an app and offer it on my website. Like PC's.. ??
Nothing is stopping you now. But I think its pretty obvious the direction Apple is headed in. macOS is becoming more and more like iOS. The process has definitely started with Big Sur. I think we are close to a time where Apple will lock down macOS and bring it into the walled garden where they have total control. I'm sure companies like Microsoft also see that and are smart not to invest money and time in developing a macOS app.
69Mustang
macrumors 604
Hardcore gamers are a minority. Services like these aren't aimed at hardcore gamers. These services are aimed at people who want to game sometimes but it isn't a priority. People watching their budget. People who may have multiple members in a family who want to play different games. The ease of entry and exit is an answer to the barrier of additional hardware investments beyond a controller. The quality of the internet service is going to be the greatest determining factor in the quality of the experience. Every game isn't going to have an optimal experience being streamed, but a heckuva lot will.
I got a free Stadia Premire Edition from Google for being a Youtube Premium member. It rides in an HDMI port right next to my XBOX One X. Playing Immortals Fenyx Rising is pretty dang good. Just as good as playing Darksiders Genesis on my XBOX. Mind you, I have AT&T 1000 so... ymmv
WiiDSmoker
Suspended
Technically you don’t need to own an Xbox anymore so that is why.
diamond.g
macrumors G5
Microsoft could, but they are probably looking at it in a ROI term, if they can get everyone in Apple land with a browser based solution, why offer a native app for the "sliver" of desktop folk. I am not sure what to make of the Apple TV issue. Noting that neither Stadia, GeforceNow or Luna work on AppleTV.