Microsoft Plans To Skirt Apple Ban On Cloud Gaming Apps Via Browser-Based Service: Report

Microsoft Corporation MSFT is opting to use a web-browser based solution to bring its xCloud gaming service to iOS devices, Business Insider reported Thursday.

What Happened: The Redmond, Washington-based company’s executive vice president of gaming told employees at a company meeting that it would bring its Game Pass to Apple Inc's AAPL iPad and iPhone devices in 2021, according to Business Insider.

“We absolutely will end up on iOS,” Spencer said. 

Microsoft is also bringing xCloud to personal computers in 2021 — the company is already testing a preview version for employees, The Verge reported.

Why It Matters: The gaming executive told CNBC earlier this month that the Satya Nadella-led company is committed to bringing Game Pass to iOS devices.

Spencer told CNBC that Microsoft’s biggest issue with Apple isn’t a financial one. “Our biggest issue is that cloud game streaming apps are actually not allowed in the way Game Pass is built for other platforms,” he said.

The Tim Cook-led company rejected xCloud for its App Store for violating the marketplace’s policies in August.

The Cupertino-based tech giant has also rejected Alphabet Inc’s GOOGL GOOG Google Stadia gaming platform from its app store.

Facebook Inc’s FB gaming app has been rejected multiple times as well, spurring antitrust concerns.

A 16-month congressional investigation into Big Tech companies concluded that Apple’s control over its mobile ecosystem allowed it to “to create and enforce barriers to competition.”

Price Action: Microsoft shares closed nearly 0.4% higher at $210.58 on Thursday and gained almost 0.3% in the after-hours session.