With the launch of the iOS 17.4 beta came some very exciting news for game streaming applications — game streaming services can now host their apps on the App Store. Although, it looks like Xbox Cloud Gaming, which allows you to stream Game Pass, won't be coming any time soon.
Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said, "There’s not room for us to monetize Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS. I think the proposal that Apple put forward (...) doesn’t go far enough to open up. In fact, you might even say they go the opposite direction in some way, but they definitely don’t go far enough to open up competition on the world’s largest gaming platform."
This comes off the back of the DMA ruling that means Apple must open up iOS in the European Union, allowing third-party App Stores and apps. While gamers were excited at the prospect of playing Game Pass games on iPhone, it's not all doom and gloom considering how easy it is to add Xbox Cloud Gaming to iOS.
Spencer also adds in the interview, "We will continue to work with regulators, and Apple and Google, to create a space for alternative storefronts." So, an official app could come in the future if Microsoft and Apple see eye to eye.
Xbox Game Pass on the App Store
Xbox Game Pass is one of the best deals in all of gaming, allowing gamers to play hundreds of the best-quality Xbox exclusives, such as Forza Horizon 5 and Starfield, for a low monthly cost. With Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can stream these games from Microsoft's servers directly to your iPhone or iPad, and the experience is great.
While no official Xbox Game Pass app is on the horizon, even with the changes coming in iOS 17.4, you can still play these games by adding a web application to your Home Screen to run through Safari. We hope dedicated game streaming apps arrive on iOS soon, but for now, at least, Xbox is tapping out.
