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| Facebook acquiesces to Apple and launches the Facebook Gaming app without games |
After Facebook tried to convince Apple to reach an agreement last Friday, it launched a new Facebook gaming app on the App Store.
Facebook said today: It has responded to Apple's request to change its gaming app to be distributed to iPhone and iPad smartphone users starting Friday. In order to comply with Apple's rules, apps are blocked even though their "primary purpose" is to distribute software such as games. The social network said it has completely removed playable games from its new apps.
Facebook said: Apple used its power in the App Store to make the Facebook Gaming app a global experience for iPhone and iPad owners. In addition to playable games, the original version of the app also allows users to watch games, broadcast them live, and participate in the gaming community.
As CEO Sherrill Sandberg, said in a statement, frustration with Apple has reached the highest level: “Unfortunately, we have to remove the game’s functionality completely. To get approval from Apple, a standalone Facebook game app. Facebook will continue to build a community for whoever. They play games on Facebook "regardless of whether Apple allows them to be used in a separate application."
Games are Apple's main source of income from the App Store, and several technical staff have concluded that Apple bans gaming services that could compete with its products and sales.
Apple said it doesn't target Facebook game apps directly: The App Store policy is designed to protect consumers. Additional apps are approved with games on the App Store.
The controversy among Silicon Valley firms is believed to have highlighted the level of competition between them. Although Facebook runs the world's largest social network and has many popular apps like Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, Apple uses its apps to control the spread. Therefore, Facebook relies on Apple to attract many users.
Mark Zuckerberg, president of Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg), expressed his shock, albeit indirectly, at Apple's power. "Some of them are rookies, others are gatekeepers who can decide if we can even launch our apps in their app stores to compete with them," Zuckerberg said in his testimony before Congress last week.
In June last year, the European Commission - the executive body of the European Union: after a complaint against the music streaming service (Spotify), conducted a formal antitrust investigation into the terms of the EU's Apple App Store. There are also disagreements between Apple and other app developers over App Store rules.
And some companies that offer game apps are moving away from the Apple app store. They said: Apple just won't endorse their apps. Because it will be a competition for their applications and services. For example, Microsoft completed a limited test of the xCloud game streaming app for Apple devices last Wednesday, but plans to roll out the app on Android devices starting next month.