We knew it was going to happen, and now it has: the first game emulators are appearing in the iOS App Store, after Apple responded to mounting regulatory pressure by relaxing its rules on the types of apps it will accept.
As noted by AppleInsider, we already have the Emu64 XL (for the Commodore 64) and the iGBA (for the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color). Both are free to install for iPhone and iPad and come with no in-app purchases.
This means you can point emulators at compatible disc files, which then run as the original games would on the original hardware. More emulators are likely to follow these two.
One caveat though: in most parts of the world, the only way to legally use these emulators 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.
Changes in the App Store
These emulators are widely available on Android but have not been seen on iOS until now. Apple made a change to its App Review Guidelines earlier this month – and while Apple didn’t explicitly say so, it’s likely because it’s under increasing scrutiny in the US and EU when it comes to third-party software that can run on of his device.
However, the change came with some caveats. Emulators are responsible for all software that can be loaded within applications and must comply with “all applicable laws” in the regions where they are used – which brings us back into the rather gray area of emulator legality.
The success or failure of these emulators could come down to the attitude of the manufacturers who made the devices they emulate. For example, Nintendo has traditionally been very strict when it comes to blocking emulation software.
However, where there’s demand, apps will follow: as 9to5Mac points out, the iGBA app mentioned above is actually a copy of an open-source emulator, with ads inserted. We can expect this new deal to take some time to settle down.