Classic Pokémon games finally come to iPhone after Apple lets ‘Game Boy’ app onto store after 10-year block for gamers
APPLE has revised its App Store guidelines to allow developers to host Game Boy emulators.
The move by Apple will now let users download retro-game emulators without going through a third party.
Downloading apps via third parties is known as sideloading and carries some security risks.
“Retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games,” the new guidelines read.
“You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws,” it added.
Apple noted that software that does not comply with its guidelines will lead to the rejection of the app.
Android’s OS has been letting developers share emulators on the Google Play store for years.
Now that Apple changed its rules, it could incentivize developers to bring apps over to iOS.
Apple’s decision to allow emulators comes days after the company received backlash for allowing an emulator app and then quickly pulling it.
WHAT HAPPENED?
For years, iOS users have wanted a way to play Game Boy titles on their iPhones.
Their prayers seemed to be answered with the arrival of the iGBA app a week ago.
But just as quickly as the app arrived, it was removed by Apple for violating some of its terms.
One of the biggest problems is that it was supposedly copied from another emulator called GBA4iOS.
GBA4iOS, developed by Riley Testut, is an open-source emulator that has been around for years.
In an email to The Verge, Testut said the iGBA app is an unauthorized clone of GBA4iOS.
In response to Apple’s move, Testut posted a lengthy statement on Threads.
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“So apparently Apple approved a knock-off of GBA4iOS — the predecessor to Delta I made in high school — in the App Store,” Testut wrote on Threads.
“I did not give anyone permission to do this, yet it’s now sitting at the top of the charts (despite being filled with ads + tracking),” the post continued.
“I’ve bit my tongue a bunch in the past month…but this really frustrates me. So glad App Review exists to protect consumers from scams and rip-offs like this,” he added.
Testut also noted that he’s angrier with Apple more so than the copycat app.
“To be clear, I’m not pissed at the developer,” Testut said.
“I’m pissed that Apple took the time to change the App Store rules to allow emulators, and then approved a knock-off of my own app — even though I’ve been ready to launch,” he added.
The situation caused uproar on social media platforms like Reddit, with many users asking how Apple could have approved such an app in the first place.