Facebook has been trying to get the approval of apple for introducing the Facebook Gaming app on Apple App Store for a very long time but every time Apple would reject their proposal. Apple had been asking Facebook to introduce changes in its Gaming App and Facebook has tried its best to satisfy the conditions of Apple and Apple is now releasing Facebook Gaming App on its app store. Now, the iPad and iPhone users will be able to use this app on their devices.
The whole scenario
Facebook introduces its Gaming App in April. This app was meant to make people play simple games with their friends and watch live streams of the games. Since then Facebook has been trying to introduce it to the App Store of Apple. Google approves Facebook Gaming App within a month for android users but Apple rejected it. Not only one or two but Apple rejected a total of five versions of the Facebook Gaming App this year only. Apple said that there are certain rules which forbid apps with “main purpose” of distributing games or those apps which are offering simple games in a “store or store like interface”. Even after being rejected, again and again, Facebook kept trying and finally, Apple will be introducing Facebook Gameplay in Apple App Store for its users.
Changes made by Facebook in its app
In accordance with Apple’s demand for Facebook to change its Gaming App, Facebook has made changes in its Gaming App. The altered version will present an inferior experience for all the iPhone and iPad users. The original version of the app which has been introduced on Google Play Store introduces the better quality of gameplay, live streaming, and playing in communities. On this, Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook made a statement, “Unfortunately, we had to remove gameplay functionality entirely in order to get Apple’s approval on the stand-alone Facebook Gaming App”. She also said that Facebook would continue building communities for those who played games on Facebook even if Apple allows it in-app or not.
Reasons behind Apple’s rejections
According to Apple, the app has been rejected to comply with some of the rules of the apps which prohibit some of the apps which have their main purpose as distributing software like games. Due to this reason, Facebook had to remove entire playable games from its Gaming App. According to other sources, Apple uses its power to exercise its authority over the App Store. When it comes to games, they are the highest source of revenue for Apple that is why many of the tech executives said that apple blocks all the game services so that they would not be able to compete with its products. But Apple has made it clear that its services are made specifically for the privacy and safety of its users. Apple also said that it has allowed game services to be part of its App Store as well.
The source of power
This act totally concludes who holds a major source of power in Silicon Valley. Facebook is already a quite popular and successful social media company yet it had to suffer so many rejections. Apple controls the power by exercising control over apps of other companies in these matters. Facebook is already dependent very much on Apple for its users. Mark Zuckerberg also expressed his views about Apple holding power above all. Apple has been exercising its power to control all the other apps when it comes to the introduction of their apps in the App Store. Some companies who have developed gaming apps simply do not show up to Apple. They think that Apple will simply deny accepting their apps and reject them straight away.
Not only Facebook but even Microsoft has ended certain limited tests for its xCloud game streaming app for Apple devices. The same app will be launched for android very soon in the next month. A Microsoft spokesman even said, “Unfortunately, we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store. Apple stands alone as the only general-purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. And it consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to nongaming apps even when they include interactive content.”
Final verdict
The whole game industry is suffering from Apple’s authority that it exercises over them. Both developers and players suffer due to the same reason. Even if we look at companies, so their maximum audience comes from Apple alone due to which they can not even avoid introducing their games on the Apple App Store.
