Adam Kos On the one hand, the closedness of the iOS platform is good in that it protects its users as much as possible from possible attacks, hacks, viruses and, ultimately, financial losses. On the other hand, functions that are already common on Android, for example, are cut short because of this. It's about game streaming.
One would like to write here that One App Store rules them all, but that would not be quite true. The App Store rules here, but it really has no one. Apple simply does not allow the ability to provide anyone with an alternative content store (although there are exceptions, such as books). Contrasted with the launch of Netflix's new gaming "platform", this topic has revived somewhat.
Apple's reason is, of course, quite clear, and it's primarily about money. Security itself is then somewhere in the background. If Apple were to let another content distributor onto its iOS, it would simply run away from transaction fees. And rather than let someone else make money, he'd rather not allow it at all. So if you want to play something from Xbox Cloud, GeForce NOW, or Google Stadia on an iPhone or iPad, simply and in full glory, that is, you cannot use the official client from the App Store.
GeForce Now in Safari
But clever developers have bypassed this quite successfully, when you can log in to the service via a web browser. It's not that comfortable, but it works. So Apple comes out of this situation as a loser, even though it achieved its goal - the distribution through the App Store did not go through, but the player who really wants to will still play titles from streaming platforms. You have to decide for yourself whether Apple is really worth it.
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Netflix without exception
As part of its Android app, Netflix has launched a new Games platform. There is therefore a virtual store in the present parent application, in which you can find the appropriate title and then simply install it on the device. The games are free, you just need an active subscription. On iOS, however, this runs into Apple's restrictions, when it would be an unsatisfactory alternative distribution network. Albeit with "free" titles. And that's why the news wasn't published immediately and for both platforms, and only those who don't use Apple devices saw it.
Gallery
According to a report by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg therefore, Netflix is expected to release each game in its portfolio separately within the App Store, from which you will install each subsequent title. Launching the game will then be tied to entering your login information for Netflix services. It's a smart solution, although not quite ideal. However, if Netflix actually does this, it technically won't violate any App Store guidelines.
I won't hide the fact that Apple really annoys me about this. Logging in to GFN or Xcloud via Safari is great, but it's not an application, the response is unnecessarily a bit longer, at the top of the display I can still see the clock and the battery status and at the bottom a white strip through which the application switcher or the home screen can be called up with a gesture I don't want to see any of that in the game.
And one more thing. I can only play my own games on GeForce NOW that I bought elsewhere. So what is the difference between this service and Steamlink which gives me essentially the same thing?