Microsoft has publicly spoken out against Apple blocking its game-streaming service, Project xCloud, from appearing on the app store. The service is currently in beta and is set to launch sometime next week. It will allow people to play graphically complex games on smartphones and other pieces of technology that wouldn’t ordinarily support them by streaming the game from a different hard-drive that handles all the computing power.
Some are calling video game streaming the inevitable future of the industry. If the technology is successful it will make high-end, triple-A titles more accessible than ever before, and open them up to a much broader audience. But, as the rocky launch of Google Stadia showed, the idea is not without its flaws. One of these flaws, as it turns out, is a distribution issue. Apple declared recently that no video game streaming services would be supported on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads, claiming that the technology was not compliant with the guidelines of the app store.
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This proclamation isn’t sitting well with Microsoft. The tech giant issued a public statement recently (via CNET) denouncing Apple for its noncooperation. The language is not kind; Microsoft claims that Apple “stands alone” as the only platform that doesn’t support this technology. It lambastes Apple for treating gaming apps with stricter and more rigorous regulations than non-gaming apps, “even when they include interactive content.” The message also speaks out in response to Apple’s main concern with its content guidelines; that streaming services like xCloud would host games that weren’t reviewed by Apple’s own team. Microsoft counters with the fact that every single game in its service was rated by the ESRB and other regional equivalents. The disappointment and defiance is heavy throughout the brief but bitter message.
This isn’t the first time that Apple has come under fire from app developers. Just a few months ago Apple caused a fracas by rejecting a paid email app on the grounds that one of its premium services didn’t use in-app purchases. Many developers criticized Apple for this, including Microsoft, who compared Apple’s behavior to its own in the 90s. This behavior led a judge to declare that Microsoft had a monopoly in the technology industry.
The video games industry is about creating experiences that are fun for those playing them. That is its most essential purpose. Services like xCloud could be a boon for this goal, bringing fun experiences to so many more potential players, but only if they receive the support they need to see it through. Apple’s behavior is, in this light, truly frustrating, and the rage and disappointment that Microsoft is evincing is fully justified. Microsoft said in its statement that it is still committed to bringing Project xCloud to iOS devices. Time will tell if this goal is fulfilled, or if Apple will block it once and for all.
Source: CNET
