Front-page

Apple is opening up its App Store for video-game emulators

AppStore.png

Apple has long been known for jailing off several off from its App Store according to their guidelines, and one such type of applications was video-game emulators. However, that all will change in the near future thank to a recent update in regards to Apple's guidelines regarding 3rd party applications, specifically emulators themselves.

On Friday April 5th, 2024, Apple updated its guidelines for the App Store, and the focus for this update was section 4.7, which talks about Third Party Software, like mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, plug-ins, and the recently added game emulators. The exact excerpt for the update in regard to video game emulators specifies the following:

Apple's App Store Guidelines said:
4.7 Mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, plug-ins, and game emulators
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. You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws. Software that does not comply with one or more guidelines will lead to the rejection of your app. You must also ensure that the software adheres to the additional rules that follow in 4.7.1 and 4.7.5. These additional rules are important to preserve the experience that App Store customers expect, and to help ensure user safety.
  • 4.7.1 Software offered in apps under this rule must:
    • follow all privacy guidelines, including but not limited to the rules set forth in Guideline 5.1 concerning collection, use, and sharing of data, and sensitive data (such as health and personal data from kids);
    • include a method for filtering objectionable material, a mechanism to report content and timely responses to concerns, and the ability to block abusive users; and
    • use in-app purchase in order to offer digital goods or services to end users.
  • 4.7.2 Your app may not extend or expose native platform APIs to the software without prior permission from Apple.
  • 4.7.3 Your app may not share data or privacy permissions to any individual software offered in your app without explicit user consent in each instance.
  • 4.7.4 You must provide an index of software and metadata available in your app. It must include universal links that lead to all of the software offered in your app.
  • 4.7.5 Your app must share the age rating of the highest age-rated content available in your app.
Click to expand...

One such known emulator that was recently approved for distribution, albeit for an alternate side loading store for iOS called AltStore, is the Game Boy Advance emulator known as Delta (previously GBA4iOS), with developer Riley Testut posting about the emulator's approval for the AltStore on April 7th, 2024 through Mastodon.

​


The recent approval of Delta to the AltStore is entirely separate, but still remains to be seen if Delta will hit the App Store officially.

One particular point of interest in the recent update, is that Apple's Guidelines specifically mention that "retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games. You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws." This makes it seems as if only legal material, such as homebrew games developed for retro game consoles, are seemingly the only ones which will be allowed to be downloaded and play. Until a video game emulator is properly approved for distribution on the official App Store, it remains to be seen if users will be able to provide their own ROMs instead of just relying on downloadable games through the emulators themselves.

:arrow: Source
:arrow: App Store emulator guidelines update
 
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Wow
Reactions: MaxiBash, Maq47, gnmmarechal and 22 others
Click to expand...
The Catboy

The Catboy

GBAtemp Official Catboy™: Savior of the broken
Member
Level 40
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
28,075
Trophies
4
Location
Making a non-binary fuss
XP
39,787
Country
Antarctica
tpax said:
They are still uncontrollably laughing inside EU's face in regards to EU's regulations.
Click to expand...
Honestly an EU law not quite hitting the mark is nothing new. Maybe one day the EU will get their shit together. Seriously, it is pretty impressive how often the EU does something people think is going to make a difference and then it just kind of doesn’t
 
Archolm

Archolm

Active Member
Newcomer
Level 6
Joined
Apr 11, 2021
Messages
44
Trophies
0
Age
43
XP
765
Country
Netherlands
lmao at all the EU hate, keep sucking Apple's balls 'Mericans! At least we're doing something while you all are shills for your corporate overlords. This is because of the EU regulations. Wish Apple kept this for the EU only.
 
  • Like
Reactions: felix.200, ShadowOne333 and tpax
Lotoonlink

Lotoonlink

Probably doesn't know what he's talking about
Member
Level 8
Joined
Aug 15, 2016
Messages
242
Trophies
0
XP
1,270
Country
United States
  • Like
Reactions: ShadowOne333
tpax

tpax

Well-Known Member
Member
Level 12
Joined
Nov 16, 2014
Messages
532
Trophies
0
Age
44
XP
3,044
Country
Ukraine
The Catboy said:
Honestly an EU law not quite hitting the mark is nothing new. Maybe one day the EU will get their shit together. Seriously, it is pretty impressive how often the EU does something people think is going to make a difference and then it just kind of doesn’t
Click to expand...
The EU law is pretty much hitting the mark. But Apple being a shitty company from a shithole country not complying with local laws, like most US companies, is nothing new. It will take some time and effort until they finally will be forced to do so.
 
Scarlet

Scarlet

Onion Soup
Editorial Team
GBAtemp Patron
Level 24
Joined
Jan 7, 2015
Messages
5,221
Trophies
2
Location
Middleish South-Left
Website
scarlet.works
XP
15,263
Country
United Kingdom
ccfman2004 said:
As far as I know this is only for the EU market as it's their law forcing Apple to do this.
Click to expand...
No that's the stuff about sideloading. I think this change is coming from US pressure with the antitrust thing.
 
The Catboy

The Catboy

GBAtemp Official Catboy™: Savior of the broken
Member
Level 40
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
28,075
Trophies
4
Location
Making a non-binary fuss
XP
39,787
Country
Antarctica
tpax said:
The EU law is pretty much hitting the mark. But Apple being a shitty company from a shithole country not complying with local laws, like most US companies, is nothing new. It will take some time and effort until they finally will be forced to do so.
Click to expand...
From an outsider’s perspective, the EU laws have been nothing but annoying to us. I get what you are saying though. I am just speaking as someone looking from the outside. Personally, I am just hoping the beating Apple has been getting from all fronts gets worse and I hoping the EU and US both start cracking down on them. Because right now, the EU laws feel like they have just enough holes for Apple to get through.
I think it’s more fair to say that US companies are deeply conditioned to look for loopholes and exploits to laws. Something that I often don’t see the EU taking enough considerations for. I could be wrong but that’s just what I am seeing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ryccardo
tech3475

tech3475

Well-Known Member
Member
Level 16
Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Messages
3,704
Trophies
2
XP
6,123
Country
Until we see an emulator which allows user provided ROMs on iOS devices, either via Apple or third party app store (without messing around with jailbreaking, dev certs, etc.), this doesn't feel like something to get excited about since restricted emulators have existed on the app store for years.

There was a C64 emulator at one point at least which had to remove BASIC because of Apple restricting 'unauthorised' code.
 

Site & Scene News

Go to forum More news

Popular threads in this forum

New static recompiler tool N64Recomp aims to seamlessly modernize N64 games

Nintendo officially confirms Switch successor console, announces Nintendo Direct for next month

Name the Switch successor: what should Nintendo call its new console?

TheFloW releases new PPPwn kernel exploit for PS4, works on firmware 11.00

DOOM has been ported to the retro game console in Persona 5 Royal

Delta emulator for iOS will support iPad devices in its next update

Mario Builder 64 is the N64's answer to Super Mario Maker

Anbernic reveals the RG35XXSP, a GBA SP-inspired retro handheld

General chit-chat
Help Users
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    I got compliments about my weight loss and thought well guess I can pig out again now I'm the piggy
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    My biggest prob is alcohol, definitely is fattening
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    I know when to stop at least honestly don't get those that go and go with food
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    Or those that order 2 big macs , large fry, ice cream sundie, then a diet coke
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    I might get downing two big macs but nah that's it
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    Ok that will be $15.99, cash or charge?
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    My go to orders usually a mcdouble and a mcchicken and I'm happy rarely mess with fries
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Pro tip ask for that clowns jizzmac sauce on your mcdouble
     +1
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    Do they charge extra when you add sauce,etc? I know burger king used to not, but don't know nowadays
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    They may squrit it for free if you ask nice
     +1
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Last time I got bk it was 35c per sauce fuck you king of my nutsack
     +1
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    I'll buy a bottle of baby rays BBQ for $2 and add it from home out of spite
     +1
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    I like baby rays, my favorite is KC masterpiece tho. Figured all you could buy is that there.
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    The metro doesn't discriminate good sauce
     +1
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Baby Rays isn't that what killed the crocodile hunter?
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    If only he had done an endorsement for them....
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Oy mate don't let a bad bbq sauce kill your party! Baby Rays are killing it!! The flavor hits you right in the chest!
     +1
  • Xdqwerty @ Xdqwerty:
    My phone only has 13% battery so i don't have much time left
  • Xdqwerty @ Xdqwerty:
    Now 12%
  • BigOnYa @ BigOnYa:
    Happy birthday, btw
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Time is running out for your phone!
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Sign up with Emperor Phone plan for unlimited power!!! And minutes!!!
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    https://youtu.be/aKWVCv8uWDI?si=nPoMq7Ga_-qIk09q
     +1
  • SylverReZ @ SylverReZ:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKjjYGUi4G4
     +1
  • AdenTheThird @ AdenTheThird:
    https://youtu.be/JmSqorj-EC0?si=vYqR8D7FZeO4N-TH
    At 1 AM, this video is the funniest thing in the world
     +1
    AdenTheThird @ AdenTheThird: https://youtu.be/JmSqorj-EC0?si=vYqR8D7FZeO4N-TH At 1 AM, this video is the funniest thing in... +1