Apple banned Shadow app after Microsoft used it as an example to get xCloud for iOS approved
Microsoft attempted to launch its xCloud game streaming service on the App Shop for iPhone and iPad users, but Apple rejected the app due to its stringent guidelines. Now emails exposed in the Impressive vs. Apple trial on Wednesday reveal that Apple even eliminated a similar app from the App Store after its presence was pointed out by Microsoft.
This public spat has now boiled over into the courtroom fight in between Epic Games and Apple, with attorneys on Epics side questioning Microsoft and Nvidia agents about their struggles to bring cloud video gaming apps to iOS.
Microsoft began evaluating xCloud for iOS in February of last year in a personal beta, and things were going well till the business chose to launch the app on the App Store. For those unfamiliar, xCloud offers an entire brochure of video games that can be used any device over streaming.
Apple claimed that apps like xCloud can not use material that hasnt been formerly authorized by the business, so the app was never released to the public. Microsoft, of course, tried to argue with Apple to alter the businesss decision– as we can see from the e-mails exposed throughout the trial in between Epic Games and Apple.
As noted by the Verge, Microsoft mentioned that Netflix is an app that uses access to several material that is not individually evaluated by Apple, and yet is available on the App Store. More than that, Microsoft told Apple about an app called Shadow, which lets users access their PC game library from another location from any iOS gadget.
As a result, instead of working out, Apple quickly got rid of Shadow from the App Store.
Microsoft was attempting to find out how Shadow, Netflix, and other similar “interactive” apps were able to exist in the App Store while Apple was refusing to approve xCloud. Microsoft put forward Shadow as an example of such a service, just to see it suddenly eliminated from the shop.
Apple later allowed Shadow to go back to the App Store, however only since the app uses complete access to a Windows PC, rather than being something specific to gaming (although the apps main function was to let users play PC video games on iOS). xCloud, on the other hand, needed to be rebuilt as a web app to deal with the iPhone and iPad.
In multiple events, Apple has taken a stand against apps that provide similar capabilities to the App Store and its own video game service Apple Arcade. In 2015, the company said that it enables streaming games on the App Store, however just if theyre sent as specific apps. Aside from saying that it had no objective of prejudicing the Shadow app, Microsoft mentioned that Apples decisions related to video game streaming on iOS lead to a “disappointment for customers.”
Its tough to think of that this will alter anything in Apples choice not to allow xCloud and other similar services on the App Store, however this will possibly have an impact on the courts decision as the company has actually been under investigation for monopoly practices.
FTC: We use earnings making automobile affiliate links. More.
Take a look at 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: