Apple Updates App Store Guidelines for PC Emulator Apps

[MacRumors]

Apple today refreshed its App Store Guidelines created for developers, modifying the emulator rules to include express permission for PC emulators to download games.

Guideline 4.7 has been updated to state that PC emulator apps can offer to download games. The guideline previously said that console emulator apps could include the option to download games, but it did not explicitly cover PC emulators.

The rule change comes following Apple's App Store approval of PC emulator UTM SE, which lets users emulate old versions of Windows, macOS, and Linux to use classic software and games.

Apple initially rejected UTM SE in June, even though it started allowing retro game emulators back in April. Apple told the app's developers at the time that it violated the App Store guidelines because a "PC is not a console." The developers behind UTM SE were able to make some technical changes, and Apple ultimately approved the app.

UTM SE was the first PC emulator app to be allowed on the App Store, but the guideline changes today will streamline the approval process for similar apps.

Apple has also updated its separate guidelines for app notarization, which applies to third-party apps that are submitted for distribution outside of the App Store in the European Union. App Store guidelines 4.7, 4.7.2, and 4.7.3 are now applicable to the notarization process.

The 4.7 guideline allows for mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, plug-ins, and game emulators. 4.7.2 prevents apps from extending or exposing native platform APIs to the software without Apple's permission, and 4.7.3 says that apps may not share data or privacy permissions to any individual software offered within an app without user consent. Prior to today's update, these guidelines were not part of the EU notarization review process.

Apps distributed outside of the App Store are not subject to all of Apple's rules, but to receive notarization from Apple, third-party apps do have to adhere to some guidelines. Apple created the notarization process for EU apps distributed outside of the App Store on the iPhone and iPad, and an app must have Apple approval to run on an Apple device.

Article Link: Apple Updates App Store Guidelines for PC Emulator Apps

 

[vertsix]

Good progress, Apple! Now give us JIT compilation support.

No excuses. No ********. Just do it. You're almost there.

 

[brofkand]

Mr. Cook, tear down this wall!

 

[Jamie0003]

I hate windows with a passion, but if I could run windows 11 or Linux on the iPad Pro with no major compromises in performance etc, I’d buy one because it’d actually make the iPad useful….the irony

 

[JuicyGoomba]

It's great that we can run emulators on iOS now, but it's very clear that Apple are pulling the whole "oh, so you regulators wanted us to open the gates to the garden? yeah sure, illegal ROMs? go for it! download ROMs straight from the app? may as well! you told us to do this after all... "

 

[AlexESP]

I hate windows with a passion, but if I could run windows 11 or Linux on the iPad Pro with no major compromises in performance etc, I’d buy one because it’d actually make the iPad useful….the irony

Buy one, of course I believe it (not only you). However, I’m very doubtful anyone would really *use it* after few days.

 

[MrGimper]

Just give me an Amiga emulator

 

[zorinlynx]

It's great that we can run emulators on iOS now, but it's very clear that Apple are pulling the whole "oh, so you regulators wanted us to open the gates to the garden? yeah sure, illegal ROMs? go for it! download ROMs straight from the app? may as well! you told us to do this after all... "

It puts the decision to run pirated content in the user's hands. Apple basically washes their hands of it.

It's the same as installing an emulator on your Mac or PC.

 

[GMShadow]

It's great that we can run emulators on iOS now, but it's very clear that Apple are pulling the whole "oh, so you regulators wanted us to open the gates to the garden? yeah sure, illegal ROMs? go for it! download ROMs straight from the app? may as well! you told us to do this after all... "

Europe doesn't care about intellectual property rights so the EU is unlikely to complain.

 

[dricci]

It puts the decision to run pirated content in the user's hands. Apple basically washes their hands of it.

It's the same as installing an emulator on your Mac or PC.

Exactly. The only reason any of this is an issue in the first place is due to Apple deciding to limit software distribution and installation on their portable tablet computers (iPads). Let's not play word games with "sideloading" and call it what it is on your Mac or PC - "Installing"

 

[hovscorpion12]

Wait. So technically, we can run windows/MacOS VM on iPads?

 

[Macalway]

JIT

Or in other words, take the SE out of UTM.

But that's just one example. It's crippling the way it is now. A start.

 

[brofkand]

I hate windows with a passion, but if I could run windows 11 or Linux on the iPad Pro with no major compromises in performance etc, I’d buy one because it’d actually make the iPad useful….the irony

It would also allow you to run apps without giving Apple their due so it'll never happen.

 

[Blackstick]

Adore UTM. Use it for all the old Windows and Mac games.

 

[Macalway]

Wait. So technically, we can run windows/MacOS VM on iPads?

Yes but it's beyond slow. It needs some more flex to make it functional. It works, and is sort of fun setting it up, but there's this thing JIT (Just in time compiling ) which would make it much faster. The SE in UTM SE, means 'slow edition', believe it or not. Apple I think sees it as a security risk, but then again, everything is a security risk to them.

But the really nasty thing about all this is the iPad uses the M4. It's insulting to have this type of power, pay for this, and then have to endure this.

 

[haysoos123]

Just give me an Amiga emulator

There already is one: the PUAE core in RetroArch. Plays any Amiga game you want.

 

[eqquito]

I bought an iPad Pro but ended up returning it. Add JIT and I re-buy it, my workflow requires me to use a laptop since I need Windows for 2 hours a week.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Europe doesn't care about intellectual property rights so the EU is unlikely to complain.

Hogwash. You haven‘t met European luxury goods manufacturers or music distributors and governments enforcing their intellectual property rights.

But yeah… leveraging intellectual property in anticompetitive ways when having a dominant position as a software/online intermediary is not welcomed.

 

[Jamie0003]

Buy one, of course I believe it (not only you). However, I’m very doubtful anyone would really *use it* after few days.

Obviously I wouldn’t use it every day but when iPadOS is being iPadOS….it’ll fix that problem

 

[Delgibbons]

Just give me an Amiga emulator

Already in RetroArch.

 

[stiligFox]

Ah, if only we had JIT now! I used Windows XP frequently for old software for my car. Having it on my iPad would be AMAZING!

I mean to be fair it does work, but the lag is... huge just to open a menu.

 

[Populus]

Adore UTM. Use it for all the old Windows and Mac games.

View attachment 2401986

Cool. I’ve been all day trying to install a Debian or Ubuntu virtual machine on my iPad Pro, and I haven’t succeeded yet.

Which OS would you say is the easiest to install? So I can finally try this PC emulation.

 

[Populus]

Wait. So technically, we can run windows/MacOS VM on iPads?

Yep, so my guess is that eventually Apple will lift more restrictions, and it will get better. That’s why I’m considering a 1TB/16GB RAM iPad Pro.

 

[Populus]

Good progress, Apple! Now give us JIT compilation support.

No excuses. No ********. Just do it. You're almost there.

I’ve read they also removed hypervisor in iPadOS 16. No idea what it is, but it sounds like it was useful for Windows virtualization?

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Cool! Now we can download DOS games.