A change to Apple’s App Store rules has reversed an old rule that has historically prohibited emulators on the iPhone and iPad.
The rule has altered a prohibition on apps that run external code, which has led to a de facto ban on console and classic game emulators.
Specifically, Apple is now allowing “software that is not embedded in the binary” to run inside apps hosted in the App Store. The company is specific as to what can run, and “retro game console emulator apps” are included in the list.
While developers are responsible for any software that can be loaded into an app, Apple has specifically stated that add-ons and ROMs comply with guidelines and all applicable laws:
Apple has offered the following provisions that must be followed:
- Follow all privacy guidelines, including but not limited to the rules outlined in Guideline 5.1 concerning the collection, use, and sharing of data, and sensitive data (such as health and personal data from kids)
- Include a method for filtering objectionable material, a mechanism to report content and timely responses to concerns, and the ability to block abusive users.
- Use in-app purchases to offer digital goods or services to end users.
- Apps may not extend or expose native platform APIs to the software without prior permission from Apple.
- Apps may not share data or privacy permissions to any software offered in the app without explicit user consent in each instance.
- An index of software and metadata must be made available in the app. It must include universal links that lead to all of the software offered in the app.
- Apps must share the age rating of the highest age-rated content available
It’s unclear how Apple will enforce these regulations, and in emulators on jailbroken devices, some rely on Files to import ROM files and BIOS files, and others have a custom file import feature.
While the concept of software emulation is legal, it’s presently illegal to use ROM files that the user does not own, or source code from the manufacturers to make the emulators. Still, the rule change could offer some interesting possibilities for emulators in the future.
Via AppleInsider and developer.apple.com