After testifying against Apple's App Store Policies with the EU's investigation, Microsoft's President repeated his testimony to U.S. Authorities, it now appears that Microsoft is putting their complaints into action by halting all work on its xCloud game streaming test for iOS devices.   

Microsoft had been testing xCloud on iOS in a very limited way over the past few months, but made it clear that the service would only be launching on Android earlier this week. Microsoft had informed xCloud testers that the preview would end on September 11th, but only the Android preview will continue until next month.

A Microsoft spokesperson informed the Verge in a statement that "Our Project xCloud preview TestFlight period has ended on iOS and we are focused on delivering cloud gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to Android customers beginning September 15."

Obviously Microsoft is leaving the door open to Apple's iOS should an agreement be made with Apple, because the statement by Microsoft added that "It’s our ambition to scale cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass available on all devices."

Microsoft’s ambitions to launch cloud streaming on iOS have hit some obstacles. The company had to limit its xCloud iOS test app to just Halo: The Master Chief Collection and 10,000 testers due “to comply with App Store policies.”

The future of xCloud on iOS remains unclear and potentially out of Microsoft’s hands. The issues appear to be related, in part at least, to Apple’s rules on in-app purchases through its App Store. For more on this read the full report by The Verge.

During yesterday during Samsung's virtual Unboxed event, Samsung announced a partnership with Xbox. A gaming bundle will be made available on August 21 with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate set to begin on September 15."

Below is the Samsung event video covering yesterday's keynote that is set to begin as Microsoft's Xbox chief Phil Spencer introduces their new partnership with Samsung. Spencer's announcement ends at the 41:00 mark and then continues into a Samsung promotion of the service until the 43: 35 mark. 

Whether Apple will attempt to make a deal with Microsoft's Xbox division in time for the iPhone 12 keynote is unlikely, though if a deal is struck, the iPhone event will be the place to make such an announcement.