Apple confirms cloud gaming services violate App Store guidelines | Hacker News Reader

Apple confirms cloud gaming services violate App Store guidelines

theverge.com

47 pointsrmorey24 comments

I could see Apple's rationale if these services were downloading executable that ran locally, but my understand is that both are literally streaming video. The only difference between these and video-streaming is more-responsive controls. If my understanding is correct, I think Apple is being very inconsistent in an antitrust way.

Ya. They have no defensible reason.

I appreciate the desire to provide a safe environment. However I continue to find it inexcuable when there is no work around.

When Google turns things away from the Play Store I understand that it is unfortunate, but users can sideload which makes the problem completely different.

This, on one hand, I appreciate everything App Store is providing to my family and friends. I would much rather everything stays this way if that is only a choice between App Store and No App Store.

On the other hand as a developer you cant help but feel how powerless, unfair and unjust the whole system is.

There has to be a middle ground somewhere. The best of both world, or an improvement to the current rigid model. Although I am not entirely sure if side loading is an answer.

By this logic - safari/firefox/chrome should not be allowed as an ios app because you can't review the usability of all the games on various websites that run within the browsers.

They know. And that's why they prohibit other browser engines on iOS. Firefox on iOS is forced to use Apple's webkit.

I understand that you end up with a skinned webkit and JavaScriptCore - A few years ago I wrote bindings for JSC for a mobile game engine so that you could invoke native code from js in an ios app. That aside, my point still stands that they can not possible vet content on the internet, so why should they be able to apply this to streaming games also.

Perhaps netflix would have been a better example. Do they vet every piece of content netflix have, if not then they can't reasonably apply this to games.

It's more likely they make we webkit mandatory so they can control the pace of progressive web apps and not have their platform be co-opted by Google through the web.

Not coincidentally, they aren't allowed. ;)

You can download "Google Chrome" from the App Store, but you're really just downloading a Google UI skin for Safari.

Personally I use Android partly because of the lack of web engine choice on iOS, but this isn't strictly true AFAIK. Apple does require the same WebKit/JavaScriptCore, but other code beside the UI skin can be different, such as the networking layer, and for Chrome at least it is different.

As an Apple fan and Xbox game pass subscriber, I'm annoyed and genuinely surprised that Microsoft aren't more on the attack here. I'm sure there's some behind the scenes manoeuvring going on, but it doesn't seem like that's going anywhere, and presumably the public would be on MS's side... is there something I'm missing?

Maybe they’re worried about setting a precedent. I doubt they want Stadia on the Xbox.

Additionally, Google with Stadia.

I look forward to Microsoft adding support for Playstation Now. I’m serious. I want all the platforms to work with each other. Let the best content win.

Well, I guess Apple will continue being a 3rd rate gaming platform then. Fuck ‘em. People who want a good gaming platform have never wanted anything to do with Apple anyway.

I’m glad that these games will not come to iOS. That means people will continue using and making games for better platforms. Apple tech is boring and sterile by comparison. The children that grew up on iOS will realize that soon enough.

It’s too bad this happened this week and not last so it could have been mentioned in the congressional hearings.

Apple make my favourite operating systems and some of the best hardware but are increasingly doubling down on dubious platform control.

This is an unsustainable position going forward, and smacks of being not only arbitrary (see Steam Link) but perhaps anticompetitive. Is the idea that no games subscription is allowed except their own Apple Arcade (which are local downloads, not streaming)

I think microsoft should not make a version of office that works on apple silicon until apple clears up this mess.

Apple is not really softening its stance (not that it should be). But this time, it's not versus Hey/Basecamp or some small dev shop.

It is a tricky topic and both sides have a leg to stand on. Will follow to see how this unfolds.

Just like Hey, Microsoft has no leverage here.

Has a larger army of lawyers though if they really want to fight this. Probably won't though.

Valve got them to allow Steam Link, which is pretty much the same as this but you own the hardware. It even has a feature where you can press on a game before it opens the connection and you never see your computer at all, it might as well be a cloud gaming service.

Microsoft could fight them in court (or testify before Congress, which would be interesting). If it's fine for Valve, why not MS?

I didn't say they can't I said they will not likely going to try at all.

I think this hurts customers.

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