Microsoft cuts xCloud iOS testing early as its future on Apple devices remains unclear

Microsoft has ended its xCloud game streaming test for iOS devices today. The software giant had been testing xCloud on iOS in a very limited way over the past few months, but made it clear the service would only be launching on Android earlier this week. Microsoft had informed xCloud testers that the preview would end on September 11th, but only the Android preview will continue until next month.

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The future of xCloud on iOS remains unclear and potentially out of Microsoft's hands. The issues appear to be related, in part at least, to Apple's rules on in-app purchases through its App Store. Apple also has strict limits on remote desktop clients" that mean apps are only allowed to connect to a user-owned host device or game console owned by the user. Both the host device and client must be connected on a local network, too. While Microsoft could potentially work around the in-app purchase App Store policies, the remote desktop client rules are likely the bigger hurdle.

We can't have third party services competing with Apple Arcade (remember Apple Arcade?) now, can we?