Updated April 15, 2024: Since publishing this article, Apple has pulled iGBA from the App Store, as we've noted MacRumors. No official comment has been issued, but we assume action was taken because the app was clearly an unauthorized copy of another app. Emu64 XL is still available.
Our original article continues below…
We knew this would happen, and now it's happening: the first game emulators have appeared in the iOS App Store, after Apple responded to mounting regulatory pressure by relaxing its rules about what kind of apps it might accept.
As spotted AppleInsider, we already have the Emu64 XL (for Commodore 64) and iGBA (for Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color). Both are free to install on iPhone and iPad, and don't come with any in-app purchases.
This means you can point emulators to compatible disk files, which then run as the original games do on the original hardware. It's likely that more emulators will follow these two as well.
A word of caution, however: in most parts of the world, the only way to use these emulators legally is to copy the code from the original discs or cartridges you've already paid for – otherwise you could find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
App Store changes
These emulators are widely available on Android, but have not been seen on iOS before now. Apple made the change to its app review guidelines earlier this month — and while Apple didn't explicitly say so, it's likely because it's under increased scrutiny in the US and EU when it comes to third-party software. She is allowed to work on her devices. Devices.
However, the change has come with some caveats attached. Emulators are responsible for all software that can be loaded within apps, and must comply with “all applicable laws” in the regions in which they are used – which brings us back to somewhat of a gray area regarding the legality of emulators.
The success or failure of these emulators may be due to the attitude of the manufacturers that made the devices they emulate. For example, Nintendo has been very strict about banning emulators.
However, where there is demand, applications will follow: e.g 9to5Mac As he points out, the iGBA app mentioned above is actually a version of an open source emulator, with built-in ads. We can expect this new arrangement to take some time to settle down.
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