Last week, Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to allow retro game emulators in the App Store. With this change coming to third-party markets in the EU, Cupertino thought it might be a good call to extend this capability to users around the world.
Here’s what the App Review Guidelines say about retro game emulators:
Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, especially HTML5 mini-apps and mini-games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer game downloads.
With that, popular video game emulator developer Riley Testut announced on Threads that Delta has been approved for distribution with AltStore. While this initially means the app will only be available to European users at first, Riley has likely sent Delta to Apple for approval in the regular App Store as well.
Delta has been around for over a decade, first known as GBA4vOS. The application has appeared and disappeared several times, and one of its advantages is its availability without the need for a jailbreak. If Apple approves this video game emulator for the iPhone, it would mean that users have legitimate and easy access to it, although finding legitimate games (or at least ones that people want to pay for) is challenging.
Which is why I think it’s time for Nintendo to take the next big step.
Nintendo should bring a video game emulator for the iPhone
Since the launch of a video game emulator for the iPhone is already a reality, Nintendo should take advantage of this and release its own service for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advanced and Game Boy Advanced SP.
Not only could it bring in even more revenue, but it wouldn’t force Nintendo Switch users to give up their consoles. On the contrary, it might encourage people to buy a Nintendo console.
Let’s take Pokémon as an example. The only way to play the original games is if you bought them on your Nintendo DS years ago. While the Nintendo DS Network is shutting down, imagine being able to legitimately play Pokémon Crystal on your iPhone and then transfer your creatures using Pokémon Bank, which is also available to iPhone users.
The possibilities are endless, especially for Nintendo to continue exploring the mobile market. It has already had a lot of success with Pokémon GO, Super Mario Run and Mario Kart Tour. If the company ported its biggest asset (old games) to mobile, it would be a money-making machine.
Wrap
While I’m excited for Delta to be available to iPhone users, I’m not sure the app will last long, especially if the only way I can play my favorite games is by downloading illegal ROMs – and we all know how Nintendo feels about stolen property.
Still, if the Big N joins the mobile market for good, this might be the best way to enjoy classic games. Either way, I’m excited for the next few months as Apple continues to open up the App Store to avoid government scrutiny.