{"id":44431,"date":"2024-08-09T15:15:51","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T19:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=44431"},"modified":"2024-08-09T15:15:51","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T19:15:51","slug":"allowing-ios-pc-emulator-apps-to-download-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/09\/allowing-ios-pc-emulator-apps-to-download-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Allowing iOS PC Emulator Apps to Download Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Updated 4.7 to clarify that PC emulator apps can offer to download games.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

They’ve also changed the notarization guidelines<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n

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4.7 Mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, plug-ins, and game emulators\nApps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. Additionally, retro game console and PC emulator apps can offer to download games.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

4.7.2 Your app may not extend or expose native platform APIs to the software without prior permission from Apple.<\/p>\n

4.7.3 Your app may not share data or privacy permissions to any individual software offered in your app without explicit user consent in each instance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

This fixes the problem where apps in<\/em> the App Store were allowed to do more than those outside of it.<\/p>\n\n

Juli Clover<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

The guideline previously said that console emulator apps could include the option to download games, but it did not explicitly cover PC emulators.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

See also: App Store Review Guidelines History<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Paul Hudson<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

New app review guidelines – does this mean I can finally (legally) get a good DOS game emulator for iPad? Give me Detroit, Space Crusade, Theme Hospital, Dungeon Keeper, and more 🤩<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Steve Troughton-Smith<\/a>:<\/p>\n

App Store policy changes re PC emulators are baby steps; I don’t think I want to buy another iPad that doesn’t have a way to robustly virtualize a desktop operating system. If Apple’s too scared to put macOS on it, just give us the frameworks and let developers virtualize Windows and Linux.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Davide Di Stefano<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

It’s really sad to think that the M1 chips has powerful emulation capabilities that can’t be even accessed from iPadOS 😓<\/p>\n

I’m also out of this platform for this and other reasons (zero development capabilities, no multi-user support)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n