Apple has announced that they will be loosening the restrictions that have previously banned emulators from the App Store. Developers will now be able to release emulators on both iOS and Mac. However, they must comply with “all applicable laws.”
Over the last few years, Apple has made an attempt to make their App Store the home for several beloved console and PC games. Recently, they released Resident Evil 4 Remake and Resident Evil Village for their devices. Further, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is also available on the App Store. As emulators are released for Apple’s devices, fans can expect to play various more games on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Apple Allowing Emulators for App Store Release, New Details Confirmed
A recent article from The Verge confirmed that Apple will be loosening their restrictions on emulators. Now, emulators can freely be added to the App Store. The only restrictions are listed above. This includes the fact that emulators must abide by “all applicable laws” and it may not “extend or expose native platform APIs.” Additionally, it “must provide an index of software and metadata” within the app.
According to the article, “The change seems to come in response to the antitrust lawsuit filed by the United States, which accuses Apple of attempting to stomp out both cloud game streaming apps and super apps. Apple recently started letting cloud streaming services, like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now, onto the App Store.”
Antitrust laws have made an impact on several gaming companies. This includes Microsoft as they recently managed to purchase both Bethesda and Activision/Blizzard, though not without attempts from the FTC to block the purchase. These laws will likely continue to impact many major video game developers.
Lastly, as of today, developers can now add their emulators to the App Store. Expect to hear of more emulators available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac in the coming weeks and months.
