Facebook now offers its cloud gaming service on iOS, but this is not a native app you’ll find in the App Store. Bypassing Apple’s rules that prevent third-party developers from steering users away from the App Store ecosystem, the social network is offering games to iPhone and iPad users via a Progressive Web App (PWA).
“We’ve come to the same conclusion as others: web apps are the only option for streaming cloud games on iOS at the moment,” Facebook’s vice president of gaming, Vivek Sharma, said in a statement published by The Verge. “As many have pointed out, Apple’s policy to ‘allow’ cloud games on the App Store doesn’t allow for much at all.
“Apple’s requirement for each cloud game to have its own page, go through review, and appear in search listings defeats the purpose of cloud gaming,” Sharma continued. “These roadblocks mean players are prevented from discovering new games, playing cross-device, and accessing high-quality games instantly in native iOS apps—even for those who aren’t using the latest and most expensive devices.”
Facebook’s PWA solution instead lets users add the web platform to their home screen like a native app, providing instant access to what is essentially a website. Simply navigate to fb.gg/play in the iOS browser, tap the “Share” icon in the bottom center, and choose “Add to Home Screen” for easy access.
While the web app is available globally on Safari, cloud games are playable only in the US and parts of Canada and Mexico, according to the Facebook Gaming team. Anyone outside those areas can still play HTML5 titles in the web app. Additional limitations, include default disabled sound, lack of push notifications, and less-intensive graphics.
Since Facebook launched its beta cloud gaming platform in October, it’s attracted more than 1.5 million players each month, and is now available to more than 98% of consumers in the continental US. You can access the free service via a web browser or the gaming section of Facebook’s Android app.
