Facebook has released a limited version of its dedicated gaming app on iOS. Due to Apple’s App Store guidelines, users will be limited to engaging with livestreams — the mini-game functionality has been cut from the iOS version.
In a series of tweets, Facebook explained how “months of submissions and repeated rejections by Apple” led them to “remove instant games entirely from the standalone app.”
“Citing App Store guideline 4.7, Apple rejected the app claiming the primary purpose of the Facebook Gaming app is to play games,” the company wrote. “It’s not. ~95% of app activity on Android is from watching livestreams. We shared this stat with Apple, but no luck.”
Facebook appealed Apple’s decision, a process Apple introduced for app developers earlier this year, but “did not receive a response.” Rather than pursue additional appeals, Facebook says it decided to launch the app Friday as is “for livestreamers and fans.”
“We’ll keep building a games platform,” it wrote. “Playing games will always be part of Facebook Gaming whether Apple allows it in a standalone app or not.”
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Facebook’s public frustration with Apple’s policies comes shortly after Microsoft revealed it’s facing similar trouble with bringing Project xCloud to iOS. “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,” Microsoft said earlier this week after ending xCloud’s iOS public preview.
“Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass,” the company added. “And it consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content.”
Despite the roadblock, Microsoft says it’s “committed to finding a path to bring cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to the iOS platform.”
Apple defended its decision in a statement to Business Insider, citing the trust and safety of its customers. It added, “Our customers enjoy great apps and games from millions of developers, and gaming services can absolutely launch on the App Store as long as they follow the same set of guidelines applicable to all developers, including submitting games individually for review, and appearing in charts and search.”
“Submitting games individually for review” appears to be where Apple finds issue with apps such as Project xCloud and Facebook Gaming, as each game included in Microsoft and Facebook’s respective services aren’t being individually submitted. To this point, Microsoft noted all xCloud games “are rated for content by independent industry ratings bodies such as the ESRB and regional equivalents.”
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Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.
Source: IGN.com Facebook Gaming App on iOS Restricted by Apple Guidelines