Google/Screenshot by CNET
Like Nvidia GeForce Now and baby Amazon Luna, Google’s getting in line to add iOS support for its Stadia cloud-gaming service, which runs through a web app. It begins initial testing in “several weeks.”
Apple’s policies make it too much work for cloud-gaming services to sell through the App Store (imagine if every movie and show on Netflix had to be in a separate app and approved independently), so services such as Stadia, GeForce Now and Microsoft Game Pass Ultimate’s cloud gaming need to resort to operating within a browser-based web app.
Safari provides the most app-like experience because it’s the only browser Apple allows to add shortcuts to your home screen in iOS. It’s not explicit whether Google’s using Safari or Chrome; Chrome is far more likely because it’s also owned by Google.
If you’re planning to preorder Cyberpunk 2077 to play on Stadia, Google will toss in the Premiere Edition — Chromecast Ultra and controller — gratis.