That Apple has given in after years and years of receiving user requests is something worth celebrating. The company, starting today, gives the iPhone a boost thanks to the completely legal activation of a function that, until now, had been prohibited. It is the beginning of a new era for the Apple smartphone.
Apple has made an excellent decision in the last few hours with which, in the end, it has surprised the entire world. Both users, specialists and professionals in the sector have been surprised to see that the company led by Tim Cook has stopped prohibiting the presence of emulators in the App Store. This means that, in a short time, it is more than possible that the iPhone will become the best mini console you could ever want to have.
Totally legal emulators
Android has been offering it for almost forever, but until now, Apple has been very clear about its approach to using emulators. They didn’t want them to be available in their app store or used on the iPhone. This prevented users from playing classics from old consoles, arcades or retro computers on their iPhone. Of course, there were methods, since the most advanced users have been doing it for years, but that always involved risks to which it was not a good idea to expose oneself.
Now, however, this changes and emulators are welcomed and approved by Apple for developers to launch their apps legally on the App Store. We read this in the Apple usage lines that it has updated and that you can read here. However, a series of points are made clear that must be taken into account.
Developers must take responsibility
Of course, Apple gives free rein to emulators, but not crazy. It is clear that the company does not want to have problems with Nintendo, Sony or any other company in the world of video games. Therefore, it specifies that the developers who design these emulators have the right, if they want, to offer game downloads within their apps. But, if they do, they will be responsible for ensuring that all the software they offer complies with the regulations and laws applicable in each case.
And Apple warns, indicating that software that does not comply with the standards will be rejected, so it will not be available in the App Store. This implies that if an emulator tries to offer downloadable games from within its app that have a current license from their authors, such as any delivery of Super Mario, Sonic or FIFA, they will see their apps rejected. Instead, developers will have to find the twist that allows them to offer their service legally. It shouldn’t be that difficult either, since there are many abandonware roms that are considered legal and are even shared by non-profit networks such as the Internet Archive. Among them there is no shortage of classic computer games, consoles like Atari 2600 or arcades.
Possibly, those responsible for these emulators will have to disassociate themselves from any attempt at financial compensation for their apps in order to offer certain games, although it remains to be seen. However, this opens up many possibilities and is excellent news for users, who will finally be able to use their iPhone with the most classic gaming without having to worry about anything.
As we indicated, this change in the regulations is already in force, so it is very possible that it will only take us a few days or weeks to see the first emulators in the App Store. From there it will be the task of the developers themselves and the users to make the most of what the iPhone is putting in their hands. Always legally, but even so, with thousands of possibilities. This is a victory for retrogaming lovers and those who wanted to use their iPhone to enjoy games very different from those normally found in the Apple app store.
