In a move that no one seems to be coming, Apple has revealed via a blog post that it is opening its once walled-off App Store. This move will allow various Game Streaming that could only be accessed via a web browser, to take part in the Apple App Store. For you and me, that means that instead of accessing Xbox Cloud Streaming or GeForce now via a browser, which happens to be two of the apps I use on my iPad, there could eventually be dedicated apps allowing gamers to access these services natively.
This is a massive change and a major win for developers and those who enjoy their apps because this decision will be implemented worldwide and not restricted to any region. I’m looking forward to playing my Xbox Cloud games on my Macbook when I’m not near home and won’t have to jump through hoops or suffer performance issues because I am using a browser.
Today, Apple is introducing new options for how apps globally can deliver in-app experiences to users, including streaming games and mini-programs. Developers can now submit a single app with the capability to stream all of the games offered in their catalog.
Apps will also be able to provide enhanced discovery opportunities for streaming games, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins that are found within their apps.
Additionally, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins will be able to incorporate Apple’s In-App Purchase system to offer their users paid digital content or services for the first time, such as a subscription for an individual chatbot.
Of course, now that this has been implemented, we’ll have to wait to see how many developers participate and how long it will be before we see an Xbox App for iOS and iPadOS. Either way, I’m glad to see that this is finally happening, and that’s one more formerly walled-off garden we won’t have to contend with anymore.
This change comes from Apple’s “victory” in the Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit, where the Appeals Court mostly sided with Apple after it banned Epic Games from the App Store for breaking Apple’s rules. This victory proved that Apple did not violate antitrust law in banning competing app marketplaces on iPhones, in this case, Epic Games. Ironically, after this lawsuit, Apple is now opening up the App Store to game streaming services.
