Last year, Microsoft made a big deal about how Apple's insistence that each of its games needed to be an individual app was behind the reason for its streaming service, Xbox Cloud Gaming, from appearing on iOS. That hasn't changed since, but it seems Microsoft was actually ready to concede behind-the-scenes.

　　In new emails obtained by The Verge as part of the Epic vs. Apple trial, it's been revealed that there was a lot of discussion between Microsoft and Apple over bringing Xbox games to the App Store. Microsoft seemingly went as far as offering to make each game available on its own if it could have a central app to host all the cloud gaming technology--a proposal which Apple ultimately denied.

　　You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.

　　Click To Unmute

　　Firearms Expert’s FAVORITE Weapons Of 2023

　　State Of Gaming Handhelds In 2023How Lies of P Cracked the Souls GenreLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Ichiban Kasuga Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Chitose Fujinomiya Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Kazuma Kiryu Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Saeko Mukoda Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Eric Tomizawa Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Tianyou Zhao Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Seonhee Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Koichi Adachi Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Yu Nanba Character Spotlight Trailer

　　Share

　　LinkEmbed

　　Size:640 × 360480 × 270

　　Start at: End at: Autoplay Loop

　　Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

　　Sign up or Sign in now!

　　Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.

　　This video has an invalid file format.

　　00:00:00

　　HTML5

　　Auto HD High Low

　　Report a problem

　　Sorry, but you can't access this content!

Please enter your date of birth to view this video

　　By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's

　　Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

　　enter

　　Now Playing: History Of Halo

　　Even more curiously, Microsoft was willing to sweeten the deal with Apple by reportedly developing Xbox AAA exclusives for iOS, which would then be sold exclusively on the App Store. "This would be an incredibly exciting opportunity for iOS users to get access to these exclusive AAA titles in addition to the Game Pass games," wrote Lori Wright, head of Xbox business development.

　　Microsoft did, however, not seem to want to concede on the issue on in-app purchases, which would effectively give Apple a 30% cut of each of their sales on the App Store. Microsoft wanted a different deal exclusive to them (which isn't out of the norm for Apple), but the company refused to budge. The Verge notes that this wasn't the breakdown of the deal, but that it certainly contributed.

　　"The reasons for rejection were unrelated to in-app purchase capabilities; we currently provide Xbox Cloud Gaming through a singular Xbox Game Pass app in the Google Play Store without IAP enabled, for example, and we would do the same through the App Store if allowed," states Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming CVP, Kareem Choudhry.

　　Ultimately, Apple announced its new App Store guidelines in September 2020, to which Microsoft immediately spoke against as it prevented it from putting any streaming service for games on the App Store at all. Instead, Microsoft released support for Xbox Cloud Gaming via the browser, circumventing the App Store but making the process a little clumsier for users in the process. There's no indication that either party is going to change their respective approach any time soon, either.