Apple Blocks Steam Link App Launch on iOS

Valve launched its steam Link app on Android devices earlier this month. The app is needed if you want to stream Steam games to your smartphone and meet all the requirements for the streaming to work. Steam planned to launch the game on iOS this week and the app had been approved by Apple earlier this month.

Apple has now announced that it is not going to allow the app to land on iOS devices via the App Store. Since the App Store is the only place that you can get official apps for the iPhone, iOS devices users wont be able to enjoy Steam Link.

As for a reason that Apple has blocked the app, all it has stated officially is that there were “business conflicts with app guidelines.” Apple is often vague with its rejections and the exact conflict the app has we dont know. The Verge reckons that the issue might be with the fact that the app allows iOS users to access another store, namely Steam where games can be purchased and played on the iPhone.

Anything that potentially cuts Apple out of the profits would certainly fall afoul of App Store rules. Apple hasnt offered official comment at this point, but Valve did issue a statement: “On Monday, May 7th, Apple approved the Steam Link app for release,” the statement reads. “On Wednesday, May 9th, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team. Valve appealed, explaining the Steam Link app simply functions as a LAN-based remote desktop similar to numerous desktop applications already available on the App Store. Ultimately, the appeal was denied, leaving the Steam Link app for iOS blocked from release.”