Microsoft Plans to Bring xCloud to iOS Using Web Browsers, According to Multiple Sources - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 08 October 2020 / 1,919 Views
Microsoft is working on a plan to bring Xbox Game Pass via xCloud to iOS in early 2021 using a "direct browser-based solution," according to sources familiar with Microsoft's plans speaking with The Verge. Microsoft is developing a web browser version of xCloud, alongside continued work on an app the company hopes to eventually release on iOS.
Sources have also told Business Insider that the head of Xbox Phil Spencer speaking with employees at an all-hands meeting on Wednesday of Microsoft's plans to bring Xbox Game Pass to the iPhone and iPad in 2021.
"We absolutely will end up on iOS," Spencer told employees. "We’ll end up on iPhones, and iPads with Game Pass."
Apple has been blocking services like Microsoft's xCloud and Google's Stadia from running on iOS via the App Store. Apple does allow the services, but with restrictions that say developers much submit each of their games individually as separate apps. Microsoft and Google are then allowed to create an app that links to all the individual games.
Microsoft launched its monthly subscription service Xbox Game Pass on Android last month using xCloud. It is available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members at no additional costs.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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Good. I hope more companies find workarounds for Apple's anti-consumer (anti-everything not completely controlled by Apple, really) policies. Epic taking them on is good. But, MS is in a much better position to pressure then to loosen up. It'll be better for everyone if they succeed.
Apple isn't anti-consumer and they are the #1 mobile company when it comes to protecting users private data. They built the apple store and invested their own money in it. They aren't anti-consumer because they want these other companies using the user base that apple themselves built to give them a percentage of the money they make.
None of these other companies contributed to Apple building the apple store or it's success. If the Iphone and apple store failed do you think these other companies would have contributed money towards that? No it would have been a complete loss and apple would have eaten all the of the cost. The apple store didn't fail though. It grew into a very large and profitable store. Now these other companies want to dictate how much apple can charge them? Why? What right do they have to do that?
I don't disagree with Apple's position from a business perspective. But, it most definitely is anti-consumer. Apple forces their customers to do all business through their services. That leads to higher prices, which are borne by the consumer. You're correct that Apple has been a little better about protecting privacy. I commend them for that, though I think they should go further. I'm not sure what that has to do with the anti-consumer practices around the app store though.
As to other companies dictating prices.... That's not what's happening, clearly. If that was possible, we wouldn't have anything to talk about here. In reality, companies have tried to negotiate with Apple, but Apple has refused to engage. Other companies have tried to find ways to do business with Apple customers without Apple involved (so that Apple doesn't have to do anything, therefore doesn't need to be paid) and Apple has blocked those attempts. Contrast this with Google. Google also has an app store and other places where they and others sell to Android users. They have fees and policies that some companies don't like. But, in this case, Google doesn't try to stop those companies from doing business directly with the end users. This allows anyone that wants to to have access to Google customers, and they can compete with each other. That benefits everyone.
It's not what's happening but it is what these companies are attempting to do. They want to be able to tell Apple "No we wont pay this" and find workarounds to avoid paying Apple while still benefitting from the user base the company has built.
It's good that Google is going the more consumer friendly route. That is the kind of competition companies should be doing to bypass companies like Apple. If these companies really don't like what Apple is doing then don't release your software on their phones and only release it on Android. Trying to bypass Apple's system so you can benefit from the infrastructure they created while not giving them a piece of the money you make is a horrible practice.
But, MS (and many others) are attempting to not use Apple's infrastructure. That's the point. The only thing Apple is involved in in a case like this is manufacturing the phone and providing the OS.
This would be like Apple blocking access to Steam on Mac. Nobody would support them doing that. Why support it on iPhone?
Once I saw what Amazon did with Luna, I was sure Microsoft would do the same for their service. Looking forward to it
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