Apple just opened up the App Store to retro game emulators

In a rather stunning turn of events, Apple updated its App Review Guidelines this week to allow retro game emulators on the App Store. Unlike …

The post Apple just opened up the App Store to retro game emulators appeared first on BGR.

In a rather stunning turn of events, Apple updated its App Review Guidelines this week to allow retro game emulators on the App Store. Unlike many of the recent changes to iOS, this change won't be limited to Europe. In the coming days and weeks, developers all around the world will be able to launch their emulators on the App Store legally.

Here's what the App Review Guidelines say about retro game emulators as of this week:

Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games.

Emulator apps have been banned from Apple's App Store for years, and any that did manage to sneak through the certification process were swiftly removed. If you wanted to play an emulated game on your iPhone or your iPad, you had to find a workaround or jailbreak your device, both of which require far too much effort for the average user.

As The Verge notes, these rule changes are seemingly in response to an antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice. The lawsuit accuses Apple of blocking game streaming apps such as GeForce Now and says "super apps with mini programs would threaten its monopoly," referring to apps with a variety of features, services, and abilities.

The Verge also points out that many of the third-party app stores that Apple will have to allow on its devices in Europe will offer game emulators. In fact, I'd argue that it may be the primary draw of a third-party app store for a sizable portion of the audience. Rather than give those stores an easy win, why not just take Google Play's lead and allow the apps?

Personally, I'll be keeping an eye on Riley Testut's Delta Emulator, which is among the most feature-rich and impressive mobile emulators on the market. Currently, the only way to access the app is through a rather involved process, but it'll be on my iPhone in a heartbeat if Apple allows Testut to make the app available on the App Store.

The post Apple just opened up the App Store to retro game emulators appeared first on BGR.

Today's Top Deals

1. Today’s deals: Free Samsung 65″ TV, $6 Kasa smart LED bulbs, $299 3D printer, Dyson V11 stick vacuum, more
2. Today’s deals: $89 AirPods, $10 TP-Link Wi-Fi extender, $120 Ninja blender, $20 Wyze Cam v3, more
3. Best Fire TV Stick deals for March 2024
4. Today’s deals: Leftover Amazon Big Spring Sale deals, $349 iPad 10, free Samsung TV, LG laptops, more

Apple just opened up the App Store to retro game emulators originally appeared on BGR.com on Fri, 5 Apr 2024 at 18:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.