Facebook is rolling out its beta cloud gaming service to everyone except iOS users in multiple regions across the United States. The service is free to all and will allow users to play games without leaving the social media platform.
As part of Facebook Gaming, free mobile games, such as Asphalt 9: Legends, will be available to play on Facebook's website and app on all major platforms outside of iOS. After xCloud and Stadia, Facebook becomes the third cloud gaming solution to ditch iOS due to Apple policies.
In an official blog Publish, Facebook's Jason Rubin announced that the cloud gaming feature will only arrive for Android and the web for now. The vice president of gaming revealed that the company is skipping iOS for the time being due to App Store policies.
As to why the service won't come to Apple's Safari browser, Rubin points out that browser limitations are the main factor behind this.
Why have Apple's policies deterred cloud gaming providers?
According to , Apple is asking cloud gaming services to submit each game for review before making it available to iOS users. This is not only tedious, but also avoids a significant reduction in cloud service revenue for the iPhone maker.
Interestingly, this level of micromanagement doesn't apply to other apps in the App Store. Services like Netflix, PrimeVideo, Spotify, among others, are exempt from submitting individual content for review one by one. So clearly Apple is selectively targeting cloud gaming apps with this rule.
In addition, another directive requires each game to link to its product page on the App Store. This means that only games designed for iOS will appear on the cloud service. This rule, in particular, drastically reduces the reach of a cloud gaming service.
Speaking of Apple's cloud gaming policies, Rubin noted, "Even with Apple's new cloud gaming policy, we don't know if launching on the App Store is a viable route." On Twitter, he mocked the Cupertino-based company for its rigid stance on politics.
Even so, Facebook is still working on "alternative options" to bring cloud gaming to iOS, Rubin confirmed. Thus, iPhone users can rest assured that they will have access to the service in the future.
The publication Why Facebook is not launching the cloud gaming service for iOS? first appeared on Fossbytes.
