With Microsoft's xCloud launch right around the corner, Apple recently adjusted its App Store policies regarding streaming apps and services. Now, Microsoft has offered a disapproving response to Apple's updated App Store policies.
The App Store has come under major fire recently for multiple policies, including those regarding Apple's share in revenue from apps from the App Store and its restrictions on game streaming. Specifically, the App Store prohibited the xCloud and Stadia apps due to issues with security. However, the company recently amended the policy by allowing xCloud and Stadia to exist on the App Store, but added some conditions. The company's new App Store policy states that games included in a streaming service needed to be individually downloaded from the App Store, and the service should prevent subscribers from purchasing a game more than once.
Microsoft officially responded to this policy in a statement to IGN, in which a spokesperson stated the policy "remains a bad experience for customers." The spokesperson capitalized on the policy's inconvenience in direct contrast to Microsoft's focus on player satisfaction.
Microsoft's sentiment toward App Store's policy updates may resonate with many future xCloud users. It is more convenient to keep an entire game library in one place, rather than have to download and access games individually. Perhaps Apple will make a change in the future, though it has opened up more since its initial ban of the xCloud and Stadia apps.
Another App Store policy was criticized by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney recently for its practices in revenue sharing. According to the New York Times, Apple charges a 30% fee to revenue collected from businesses that use App Store. Sweeney's criticism was followed by a wave of support from both Microsoft and Facebook, with Epic Games and Apple now embroiled in a lawsuit following Sweeney's initial criticism of the company.
Although the App Store's policies remain troubling for some, Project xCloud's launch is just around the corner exclusively on Android devices. Microsoft had halted development of xCloud for iOS devices due to the App Store's previous restrictions on xCloud. The App Store's latest update could kick xCloud into development for iOS devices into gear, though given Microsoft's response to the policy change, this may be unlikely.
While Microsoft is contending with xCloud's upcoming launch, the company will release the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S this holiday season. With xCloud launching a couple of months ahead of the two next-gen consoles, 2020's final quarter may turn out to be a successful one for Microsoft.
Source: IGN