An app that offered a simple way to get Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service running on iOS is being removed from the App Store, its developer says. Stadium creator Zachary Knox announced the news in the app’s Discord server. “I have some bad news,” Knox wrote, “But before I get to that: if you want to use the App Store release of Stadium, download it now.”
While cloud gaming services like Stadia, xCloud, and GeForce Now are not officially available on iOS because of Apple’s rules, Stadium offered a workaround by streaming Stadia’s games through a web browser. This is theoretically allowed, since Apple’s policies specifically say developers can use “the open Internet and web browser apps” to reach users outside of the App Store. However, it appears Apple isn’t happy with the specifics of Stadium’s implementation.APPLE OBJECTED TO KNOX “EXTENDING WEBKIT WITH NATIVE APIS”
Specifically, Knox says App Store St objects to how his app is “extending WebKit with native APIs to connect with Bluetooth.” This is what allowed the app to connect Bluetooth controllers to Stadia. Apple’s ruling appears to refer to section 4.7 of Apple’s App Store guidelines, which governs web-based games on the platform.
