Update 12/09/20: Microsoft has officially announced that its Xbox cloud gaming service will come to iOS and PC in spring 2021. This story has been updated to reflect the official announcement.
Microsoft has been stymied by Apple’s rules for the App Store, which all but prohibit the company from bringing its Xbox game streaming service to iOS devices. The company has updated the Xbox app to let you stream games from your own Xbox on the same local network, but you won’t be able to stream games from Microsoft’s cloud servers.
- Feb 27, 2018 A new $10 app called OneCast, however, has apparently figured out how to get your Xbox One games streaming to your Mac. The app isn't an official release from Xbox, however, unlike Sony's solution.
- If you have an Xbox One, though, you’ve now got a decent alternative for streaming games to your Mac in the form of the new OneCast app. For just $10 (regular price $20) and a decent internet.
OneCast allows you to stream Xbox One games to macOS in 1080p and connect an Xbox controller to your Mac via Bluetooth or USB. OneCast is extremely easy to setup, there’s almost no lag when playing and you can setup multiple profiles for multiple Xboxes. A new $10 app called OneCast, however, has apparently figured out how to get your Xbox One games streaming to your Mac. The app isn't an official release from Xbox, however, unlike Sony's solution.
With the App Store rules requiring Microsoft to list every single streaming game as a separate App Store release with its own ratings and download and icons and so on, how could Microsoft possibly end up on your iPhone or iPad?
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The answer is: by avoiding Apple’s ecosystem in favor of the open web. Much like Amazon’s Luna gaming service, Microsoft will build a web-based solution that gamers can access on their iOS devices.
While Apple likely views this as a victory—proof that its policies do not prevent such services from being enjoyed on its devices—it’s really just more evidence that Apple’s platform is too restrictive for some developers and services, and requiring the use of less-ideal and customer-friendly web apps, where other platforms get native apps.
Microsoft will expand its cloud gaming efforts to mobile Safari on the iPhone and iPad as promised, with an expected launch in spring 2021.
Cloud gaming is the next frontier on mobile and while Apple's rules restrict these games to streaming in Safari platforms are still jumping on board. Microsoft previously promised to push its project xCloud to iOS and iPadOS, and now we have a timeline.
Xbox Vice President Jerret West shared the plans for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in a blog post. The post covers how quickly Xbox Game Pass is being adopted and how this will push their initiative to expand to more devices.
Starting in spring 2021, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will arrive on iOS and iPadOS devices in beta. Users will access the service via the Safari web browser, which is a requirement set by Apple's game streaming guidelines. In order for the service to exist natively on iOS, Xbox would need to submit all of the games available on Game Pass to the App Store for review, which isn't ideal.
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Nvidia GeForce Now was one of the first game streaming services to launch on mobile Safari with the ability to play compatible games purchased on Steam. Amazon Luna launched in October with a limited sign-up program and a proprietary controller. Other services like Google Stadia have already promised future compatibility with mobile Safari, though Playstation Now remains a holdout.
Xbox Remote Play On Mac
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