There has been a lot of discussion between Microsoft and Apple regarding what should and should not be uploaded to an app store. Seemingly in response to Apple’s restrictive rules, Microsoft has published its own app store principles that allow services that Apple has restricted in the past.
What’s on Microsoft’s New App Store Principles?
Microsoft published the list of ten principles over on the Microsoft On the Issues Blog. Moving forward, Microsoft states that it will hold app developers and publishers to a series of rules that detail equality and reasonable standards.
Of note are the following points:
“1. Developers will have the freedom to choose whether to distribute their apps for Windows through our app store. We will not block competing app stores on Windows.
2. We will not block an app from Windows based on a developer’s business model or how it delivers content and services, including whether content is installed on a device or streamed from the cloud.
[…]
5. Every developer will have access to our app store as long as it meets objective standards and requirements, including those for security, privacy, quality, content and digital safety.
6. Our app store will charge reasonable fees that reflect the competition we face from other app stores on Windows and will not force a developer to sell within its app anything it doesn’t want to sell.
[…]
10. Our app store will be transparent about its rules and policies and opportunities for promotion and marketing, apply these consistently and objectively, provide notice of changes and make available a fair process to resolve disputes.”
These rules, in particular, seem to be targeting Apple’s App Store. Of note are rules two and ten, which reflect Microsoft’s recent struggles with Apple.
Rule number two makes it very clear that cloud-based content is allowed on Microsoft’s app store. This challenges Apple’s ban of xCloud on the ground that xCloud is a game streaming service.
Rule number ten states that Microsoft will keep the rules and policies crystal-clear and transparent. This, too, seems to be targeted at Apple after it confused Microsoft with its unclear rulings on Project xCloud’s place on the App Store.
As such, Microsoft is likely trying to capitalize on Apple’s distaste for cloud gaming services, letting developers know that their services are welcome on the Microsoft app store.
Microsoft Is Clearing a Path for Cloud Gaming
With Apple’s recent negative stance on cloud gaming, Microsoft makes it very clear that it allows such services on its platform. If Microsoft plays its cards right, it could get a strong presence in the cloud gaming scene over its rival.
This isn’t the only attack that Microsoft has launched against Apple’s stance on cloud gaming. Recently, Microsoft’s gaming division head stated he’s going to get Project xCloud on iOS by dodging the App Store entirely.
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