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Microsoft is working on a “straightforward browser-based solution” to bring xCloud to iOS early next year. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans say The edge that the company has been developing a web version of xCloud to run on iOS and iPadOS devices, as well as continuing its work on an app that it hopes will eventually run on Apple’s platform as well.
Microsoft’s head of gaming Phil Spencer revealed the company’s browser-based xCloud work during a recent internal meeting. “We will definitely end up on iOS,” Spencer said during the meeting, noting that he “feels good” with the company’s progress on iOS. “We will end up on iPhones and iPads with Game Pass.” Business Insider First reported the news of the web version for iOS.
Apple has been blocking services like xCloud and Stadia from running on iOS devices through its App Store, and recently offered an olive branch to these services with some major restrictions. Apple insists that developers must individually submit their games as separate applications using its streaming technology. Microsoft and Google are free to create a “catalog” style application that collects and links all of these individual applications.
Microsoft was not impressed with Apple’s approach, and as a result, the potential launch of xCloud on iPhones and iPads has been left in limbo. We understand that Microsoft is targeting an early 2021 release for a web-based version of xCloud for Apple devices. This version of the browser would bypass the App Store, much like Amazon is doing with its new game streaming service Luna.
During the same hands-free call at Microsoft, Spencer also discussed the company’s plans for xCloud on PC. Spencer described the PC as a “great opportunity” for both Game Pass and game streaming. Microsoft is now aiming to bring xCloud to Windows 10 PCs in 2021. The software giant has been testing a preview version with employees for months, and it will debut sometime next year.
