Microsoft: Apple’s 30 percent commission makes Xbox Cloud Gaming for iOS infeasible
By ForGeeks Microsoft has explained why it hasn’t released an Xbox Cloud Gaming app for iOS, saying that App Store rules remain too restrictive despite allowing cloud gaming apps on the platform. In a statement to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which investigates mobile browsers and cloud gaming, Microsoft emphasized that App Store rules continue to prevent cloud gaming app developers from fully working on iOS for “technical and economic reasons.”
Microsoft emphasized that the App Store rules continue to prevent cloud gaming app developers from fully working on iOS for “technical and economic reasons.”
Microsoft said that the App Store rules remain too restrictive to allow cloud gaming apps on iOS.
Microsoft’s main complaints: the App Store commission and restrictions
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Microsoft’s main complaint is Apple’s requirement that subscriptions and features be available on iOS devices through in-app purchases, which is “unfeasible” for cloud gaming services. Apps aren’t allowed a scenario where content is purchased on another platform and played on iOS – jeopardizing the cloud gaming model.
Apple is not allowed a scenario where content is purchased on another platform and played on iOS – jeopardizing the cloud gaming model.
Microsoft is particularly focused on Apple’s 30% commission, which they call “unsustainable” and claim it makes monetizing cloud gaming “uneconomical and unjustifiable.” Microsoft is also unhappy with the lack of support for alternative app stores on iOS and the limitations of web apps, such as the inability to access device hardware features.
Microsoft is also unhappy with the lack of support for alternative app stores on iOS and the limitations of web apps, such as the inability to access device hardware features.
Other companies’ positions and Apple’s response
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Google also submitted comments to the CMA, suggesting that the regulators’ focus should be on the iOS App Store rather than Google Play. In response, Apple said it “supports and encourages” cloud gaming services on iOS and cited the example of its successful Antstream service. Apple suggested that regulators should reconsider their opinion because the company’s support for cloud gaming came after the investigation began.
Apple suggested that regulators should reconsider their opinion because the company’s support for cloud gaming came after the investigation began.
The Future of the Investigation
The comments from Microsoft and others will be taken into account by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority when making a decision in the ongoing investigation into mobile browsers and cloud gaming. It is expected that the regulators’ decision could affect the future of cloud gaming services on iOS, as well as the relationship between major technology companies and their ecosystems.
It is expected that the regulators’ decision could affect the future of cloud gaming services on iOS, as well as the relationship between major technology companies and their ecosystems.
