Apple won’t allow Microsoft xCloud or Google Stadia on iOS because of strict App Store guidelines that make cloud services effectively impossible to operate on the iPhone. Here’s Apple’s reason why they won’t let these services on iOS:
The App Store was created to be a safe and trusted place for customers to discover and download apps, and a great business opportunity for all developers. Before they go on our store, all apps are reviewed against the same set of guidelines that are intended to protect customers and provide a fair and level playing field to developers.
Our customers enjoy great apps and games from millions of developers, and gaming services can absolutely launch on the App Store as long as they follow the same set of guidelines applicable to all developers, including submitting games individually for review, and appearing in charts and search. In addition to the App Store, developers can choose to reach all iPhone and iPad users over the web through Safari and other browsers on the App Store.
So in short, Apple can’t review the games so the entire service is banned.
To be blunt, and this is one of the few times I’ve been this blunt on this blog, Apple’s explanation is total bullshit.
Netflix is on the iOS platform. And Apple can’t review everything on the Netflix platform to ferret out things like quasi-pornographic material as Apple has a problem with that. But Netflix is still on the App Store. Stadia and xCloud are not any different. I’ll also point out that both Steam Link and PS4 Remote Play are on the App Store, and allow users access to a whole pile of games that I am certain Apple has not reviewed. So why is Stadia and xCloud any different?
The fact is that Apple has Apple Arcade. And Apple wants you using Apple Arcade games because it lines Apple’s pockets with money. Not to mention other games that are available on the App Store that Apple gets a cut of. Conversely Apple won’t get the same levels of money from Stadia and xCloud, thus Stadia and xCloud must not appear on the App Store. In short, it’s Apple being Apple by being protectionist. And hopefully the same politicians that were quizzing Apple among other tech companies about this sort of behavior see this latest example so that they can take action by doing something that makes it clear that Apple can’t behave like this. Like using the anti-trust laws that exist against Apple for starters.
UPDATE: Facebook has apparently launched a similar gaming service today on iOS with no games to protest Apple’s absolutely laughable and stupid stance on game streaming services. Details here.