Facebook Gaming has been on the rise since Microsoft decided to shut down Mixer last month and move the company's support to the social media's streaming service. With this growth, Facebook has launched an app on iOS so viewers can have easier access to their favorite streamers on the platform and play games themselves. However, Apple is limiting the intended functions of the app.
Many streamers have joined other streaming platforms after Mixer shut down its services, and many have joined Facebook Gaming following the incident. While big names such as Ninja have been streaming on YouTube and Twitch, the social media streaming service has also gained some new members. With the new app, Facebook Gaming is hoping to reach more views on Apple devices, but there have been a few mishaps along the way.
The Facebook Gaming app is currently available in the Apple Store. However, users can't play mini-games on the application due to strict Apple guidelines. According to Apple, each game needs to be individually vetted before the app can be approved, but Facebook Gaming is a platform that also caters to game developers and players as well as streamers. Facebook has been communicating back and forth with Apple about this issue for over 6 months, but Apple continued to reject the app.
Apple claims that the app's primary focus is to play games, which Facebook disagrees with, citing that around 95% of the Android app's activity is from viewing Facebook Gaming live streams. Using a process that Apple introduced earlier this year, Facebook appealed the decision. However, the social media platform claims that it never heard back from Apple, so Facebook decided to publish the app without the gaming features.
Microsoft has also been having issues with Apple on similar grounds. The game company has been trying to adapt its Project xCloud for iOS, but it also is having trouble getting passed the individual evaluation rule that Apple has in its policy. Apple has stated that it does not intend to change this rule, as it holds each app to the same standard regardless of the developer.
While this may be disappointing to some, Facebook Gaming viewers will have a more convenient way to view their favorite streamers. Microsoft and Facebook may continue to work with Apple to add these features to iOS users, but for now, these features will only be available to Windows and Android users.
Source: IGN