The integration of Xbox Game Pass into Apple's ecosystem marks a significant shift in the world of mobile gaming. This change, catalyzed by Apple's recent policy update, is set to redefine the experience of playing games on iOS devices.
Apple's stringent policies have long impacted how game-streaming services could operate on the platform, resulting in to a less-than-ideal user experience. However, with the latest announcement, gamers are in for a treat.
Previously, Apple's policies mandated that every game offered through streaming services like Xbox Game Pass had to be submitted as an individual app on the App Store. This requirement created a cumbersome process for its developers while diluting the user experience, forcing players to navigate multiple apps to access different games. In contrast, non-gaming streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix have not been subjected to these limitations, highlighting a disparity in treatment.
The recent policy change by Apple, announced on January 25, comes as a response to feedback from the massive Apple community and the increasing pressure from EU regulators investigating antitrust allegations. It allows developers to submit a single app capable of streaming an entire game catalog. This pivotal change is expected to streamline the gaming experience on iOS devices, making it more akin to that on other platforms.