What a difference a month makes: in August, it became clear that Microsoft would not bring Project xCloud to iOS. This is because Apple's App Store restrictions require each game to be vetted individually.

Now Apple has made a partial concession: the App Store guidelines have been updated to explicitly allow services like Game Pass and Stadia. Streaming services can have a central "catalog app" for selecting games, but streamed titles will require their own dedicated apps, making the home screen a bit crowded.

This rationale is not entirely clear. After all, the Netflix app does not require an app for every movie, and the Kindle does not create a new app for every book you buy. For games, however, the rules are different, and each title requires a listing in the App Store, basic functionality when downloaded, and a developer relationship with Apple. In addition, each game downloaded requires in-app purchases to "unlock features and functionality"

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Needless to say, Microsoft is not happy with this compromise. A Microsoft spokesperson told Tom's Guide, "This remains a bad experience for our customers. Gamers want to dive straight into games from a curated catalog within a single app, just like they do with movies and music, and they don't want to be forced to download 100+ apps to play an individual game from the cloud."

"We are committed to putting gamers at the center of everything we do, and delivering great experiences is at the core of that mission.

It is not immediately clear whether this statement is simply a call for further concessions or a sign that Microsoft will decide that Game Pass is best left for non-Apple devices. However, given that Apple is notorious for cutting 30% (15% after the first year) of subscriptions signed up for its devices, it is likely that Microsoft is considering its options, even if it has not publicly committed to one or the other. [This would be music to the ears of Samsung, which has made a big deal about both the Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra supporting Xbox Game Pass. Samsung is not only optimizing streaming, but also offering Samsung-exclusive content for Game Pass subscribers. Pre-orders came with three months of Game Pass for free, and there was also a special bundle for gamers with a controller grip.

For gamers considering the iPhone 12, Samsung's flagship rival may suddenly seem more attractive. And Samsung will not miss the opportunity to make the upcoming Galaxy S21 Game Pass compatible as well.

It remains to be seen if Apple and Microsoft can resolve their differences, but so far it does not look good.