In other words, individual games cannot be purchased from a storefront within native apps. “I think it’s a huge opportunity.” Alternative app stores on iPhoneĪpple currently requires that any company offering cloud games on its hardware list each individual game on the App Store.

“The Digital Markets Act that’s coming-those are the kinds of things that we are planning for,” he said. “Today, we can’t do that on mobile devices but we want to build towards a world that we think will be coming where those devices are opened up,” he said in a nod at changes coming to the App Store in 2024. Microsoft Gaming chief Phil Spencer told the financial newspaper that his company wants to offer Xbox games across any screen where somebody would want to play. The store would also launch on Android devices. The Financial Times reports that Microsoft is preparing to launch a new iPhone dedicated to Xbox cloud gaming as soon as next year, provided its problematic $75bn acquisition of Call of Duty developer Activision Blizzard is cleared by regulators. Microsoft’s iPhone app store for Xbox games due in 2024

What to do? See how Xbox cloud gaming works on iOS by signing in with your Microsoft account using Safari on your Apple device at /play.

Why care? Microsoft’s store could be the first non-Apple app store on your iPhone, simplifying Xbox cloud gaming on Apple hardware.

What’s happening? The Windplanss planning to bring Xbox games to Apple devices via a custom app store as soon as EU rules come into effect.

Xbox cloud gaming is getting a dedicated app store on iOS | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB

After the EU’s new rules come into force in March 2024, Microsoft will have legal ground to launch a new iPhone app store dedicated to Xbox games.

Windows app store