Apple’s App Store has been a tightly controlled platform for quite some time. However, the strict policies have been changing recently, mainly due to EU regulations. Even so, this process has been bumpy and met with significant resistance from Apple.
Fortunately, things are improving. Apple’s most recent App Review Guidelines offer a more relaxed approach toward providing additional content from within apps. Notably, this includes retro game console emulators that, under the new rules, may allow users to download games, also known as ROM files.
This development could mark the return of emulators to the App Store, which have been largely absent in recent years. The guidelines state, “You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.” Therefore, everything must be legal and above board. This raises questions about some old game titles classified as “abandonware” that frequently have unclear and uncertain legal implications.
While reviewing the new App Review Guidelines, we noticed that Apple lists “game emulators” alongside “mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots and plug-ins.” The guidelines broadly state, “Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini-games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins.” The mention of HTML5 is slightly concerning, especially when combined with another guideline that states, “Your app may not extend or expose native platform APIs to the software without prior permission from Apple.” This potentially means that “native” emulators that leverage hardware acceleration powered by system APIs may not be permissible. If that is the case, and only high-level emulation tech can be used, we cannot realistically expect more performance-demanding consoles to be emulated.
As with all things Apple, especially regarding relaxed regulations and opening up the “walled garden,” we fully expect the outcome to be based on a precedent that Apple itself will surely set. We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold (pun intended).
Source | Via | Image source