Microsoft Slams New App Store Rules Targeting Game Streaming Services

Last week, Apple updated its App Store review guidelines ahead of iOS 14’s general release this month, introducing new rules that directly affect game streaming services like Microsoft xCloud and Google Stadia, and now, Microsoft has slammed the iPhone maker’s new App Store rules.

Based on Apple’s new guidelines, Microsoft needs to individually submit each game offered on its game streaming platform as a separate app in the App Store instead of an all-in-one app experience. Developers are, however, permitted to release a so-called “catalog app” that links to other games in the service.

In a statement to The Verge, Microsoft has said this would be “a bad experience for customers,” while pointing out that Apple does not force Netflix, Disney Plus, or Spotify to submit each movie, TV show, or album into a separate app.

“Gamers want to jump directly into a game from their curated catalog within one app just like they do with movies or songs, and not be forced to download over 100 apps to play individual games from the cloud. We’re committed to putting gamers at the center of everything we do, and providing a great experience is core to that mission.”

Microsoft has not yet confirmed whether it will or will not rework its game streaming service to work with Apple’s new rules, which will launch next week as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.