Phil Spencer Promises Xbox Game Pass Will 'Come To iOS Next Year'
Microsoft might be gearing up for its move into next-gen consoles with the Xbox Series and Xbox Series S, but that doesn't mean the gaming giant has forgotten about its other eggs in other baskets. In a big move for the Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft boss Phil Spencer has confirmed it will be coming to iOS next year. Moving the Xbox Game Pass to Apple's store is huge news for mobile gamers who want to play their favourite Xbox titles on a smaller screen.
Only last month, Game Pass merged with the xCloud Service and started allowing Android owners to stream via mobile. As the recent drama between Epic Games and Apple has proved, the App Store is a little more strict when it comes to what it will allow on the platform. This is a gauntlet Spencer isn't afraid to run as he's now "determined" to get the Xbox Game Pass on iOS
According to Business Insider, Spencer has outlined his plans to bring the Game Pass to iOS. The Xbox head is apparently working on a “direct browser-based solution" to bypass Apple's stringent review process. As it stands, Apple has blocked the likes of xCloud and Stadia.
Apple has suggested that each developer would have to release their games via a specific app, while Microsoft could only collate them in a "catalogue-style" app - a bit of a faff and a million miles away from how the Xbox Game Pass is supposed to work.
Added to this, The Verge claimed the same is being worked on for Windows 10, with hopes Game Pass will also arrive there in 2021. Apple recently changed the way game streaming worked on iOS by further doubling down on the fact that every game has to be verified by its own in-house team. At the time, Microsoft released the following statement:
"This remains a bad experience for customers. Gamers want to jump directly into a game from their curated catalog within one app just like they do with movies or songs, and not be forced to download over 100 apps to play individual games from the cloud. We’re committed to putting gamers at the center of everything we do, and providing a great experience is core to that mission".
The worry here is Spencer's promise that it will get around the App Store rules. We all know how that ended for Epic when Apple promptly pulled Fortnite from sale. Ironically, Spencer was one of those who threw his weight behind Epic and fought the developer's corner against the might of Apple. It's a risky move to make, and one that could cost Microsoft dearly.
When it comes to Game Pass, the subscription service costs £7.99/$9.99 a month and offers 100s of the console's top titles. There's also the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that comes in at £10.00/$14.99 a month and includes exclusive discounts alongside in-game content. The Game Pass library boasts everything from Halo to Gears of War, Forza to Fable. Cross-console titles like DOOM Eternal, the Batman: Arkham games, Destiny 2, and Mortal Kombat X are also there for you to enjoy.
Amazon may have managed to circumnavigate Apple's draconian laws with its Luna streaming service, but only time will tell whether Microsoft can pull off the same move with the Xbox Game Pass.
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