Apple has today announced that it is loosing up the App Store restrictions and will now allow retro game emulators onto the store.
In an update provided overnight, Apple confirmed that game emulators can now come to the App Store globally and also offer downloadable games, but obviously, these will need to comply with local laws.
“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.” reads the new App Store submission guidelines
This follows in the footsteps of Android who has allowed emulators for many years, and has a very fruitful community that dabble in the emulation space, but on iPhone, this has required jailbreaking your device or other workarounds.
This change seems to be a response to an antitrust lawsuit filed by the United States and pressure from the European Commission which are both trying to prove that Apple is dealing unfairly by locking out the likes of game streaming services with technicalities.
It’s unclear how long it’ll take before we start to see game emulators appear on the App Store and with at least Citra and Yuzu closing down in recent times, it’s unclear that emulators will make the jump over.
