Apple looks likely to allow gaming platforms Xbox Cloud and GeForce Now to release apps on the Mac App Store.
The company has announced that it now allows game streaming apps to be released on the iOS store paving the way for them to be allowed on the Mac App Store too.
Although there’s no official confirmation yet that the new move will apply to macOS and the Mac App Store, it’s likely that Mac users will soon be able to download an Xbox Cloud and GeForce Now app.
At the moment, Mac users can only access Xbox Cloud via a browser. NVIDIA does provide a Mac desktop app for GeForce Now but would almost certainly add it to the Mac App Store if allowed.
In the statement, Apple said:
Today, Apple is introducing new options for how apps globally can deliver in-app experiences to users, including streaming games and mini-programs. Developers can now submit a single app with the capability to stream all of the games offered in their catalog. Apps will also be able to provide enhanced discovery opportunities for streaming games, mini-apps, mini-games, chatbots, and plug-ins that are found within their apps.
The move means that it should be easier and more stable to play Windows only games on a Mac since dedicated apps should perform better than simply streaming through a browser.
It should also mean more support for external hardware such as keyboards and controllers when gaming on a Mac.
It also possibly opens the way for Xbox Cloud and GeForce Now apps on Apple TV so that you can play AAA games on those platforms on a widescreen TV more easily.
The move also comes at the same time as Apple announced new measures to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) about allowing users wider access to competitor services via its App Stores.