[GameSpot] - Apple's New App Store Rules Allow xCloud, But It Still Seems Unlikely

[343iBot]

Apple has made rule changes to its App Store guidelines, which could have a big impact on Microsoft and Google's plans to offer streaming services. The rule changes appear more favorable to Microsoft xCloud and Google Stadia, but there still appear to be unresolved questions about how it will work.

Apple's new guidelines explicitly say that streaming services are restricted. However, those games would need to be downloaded from the App Store individually. Apple will allow providers to have a "catalog" app that manages these downloads, but each game would have to be its own distinct listing.

That would appear to rule out the streaming services, as both xCloud and Stadia rely on a model in which you don't download individual games at all. Instead, the games stream through the cloud, similar to watching a movie on Netflix--which Apple allows through its App Store, of course.

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