When Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney declared war on Apple and Google, some called him crazy. However, he ultimately managed to make cracks in the digital publishing and distribution model of both companies, which coincided in time and form with the interest of regulatory authorities in different countries. The infamous 30% quota was one of the most talked about topicsand it is said that no one learns from other people’s mistakes until it happens to them, just like what is happening with Microsoft and its intentions to do business with Xbox Cloud in the App Store.
Microsoft criticizes App Store’s 30% share, says it’s impossible to monetize cloud gaming like this
A report from Insider-Gaming shared details of Statements made by Microsoft’s representative to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)an old acquaintance after the tremendous lawsuit over the purchase of Activision Blizzard, due to an investigation that the organization is carrying out around the cloud video game business. In this regard, the Xbox company attacked Apple because it considers that until now there are no conditions for developers and users to have a favorable environment and experience due to the rigid limits of the App Store.
In that regard, Microsoft revealed that it has not been able to properly monetize its cloud gaming offering via Xbox Cloud due to the fee charged by Apple’s platform: “the 30% commission fee makes it impossible for Microsoft to effectively monetize its cloud gaming services offering.”
On the other hand, Microsoft criticized Apple’s requirement that cloud gaming service providers, as well as developers who put their titles there, have to adapt their features to the App Store guidelines, something that only benefits the platform and its owner, limiting competition: “From a practical perspective, providers have no way to guarantee that third-party game developers will recode their games to comply with this requirement. As a result, the restriction effectively prevents them from offering games developed by third parties.”
Finally, The document sets out Microsoft’s criticism of Apple’s impediment to developers being able to establish direct or third-party means of monetization.which do not go through the App Store, another of the flags that Tim Sweeney raised years ago and which is now a situation to be considered by the companies involved and the regulatory and commercial authorities.
So far, Microsoft has been offering cloud gaming as part of its premium Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Android devices. The company recently began a relationship with Amazon to get Game Pass and Xbox Cloud running on Fire Stick devices, and has also entered into an agreement with Samsung to support the Xbox app on its recent-model Smart TVs.
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