Wright explained that Microsoft appealed Apple's decision to block xCloud by pointing out that Netflix and Microsoft's own Shadow have similar business models, and yet both of those apps were allowed in the App Store. In the case of Shadow, users can run a virtual desktop with a high-end PC capable of game streaming. As a result, Apple pulled the Shadow app from its store. Wright insists it wasn't Microsoft's intention to tattle on Shadow, and they had no expectation Apple would react the way it did.
Shadow was able to get reinstated to the App Store by framing it as a full virtual PC. While Shadow is capable of playing games, it doesn't sell any directly. The iPhone maker eventually added clear rules about game streaming platforms on the App Store, but the restrictions would hobble a service like xCloud. Microsoft decided instead to rebuild the service for the browser and skip the App Store entirely. Airing Apple's dirty laundry probably won't change how it operates, but it could well turn the case in Epic's favor.
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