Apple Finally Allows Game Emulators on the App Store
Following a $2 billion USD fine for failing to comply with the Digital Markets Act.
Apple has a history of being extremely protective over what kinds of apps can be listed on its App Store. Last month, the company was fined $2 billion USD by the EU commission for failing to comply with the recently passed Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation that protects fair competition.
While Apple appealed the fine, it has made a few changes to the App Store since. For starters, Apple is now allowing music streaming apps to include links that take users to an external website where users can make purchases, 9to5 Mac reported first. This previously was barred under the same rules that Apple enforced when Epic Games attempted to offer its own payment systems.
Available only in the EU, the feature is called “Music Streaming Services Entitlements” and was enforced by the commission to prevent Apple from pushing its own Apple Music app over competitors such as Spotify and Tidal.
Apple is also now allowing game emulators on the App Store, which allow the iPhone to simulate another video game console, most often used to play ‘80s and ‘90s-hailing titles on modern devices. This feature is now available globally and
was shared by Apple in an email to developers, 9to5 Mac reported.
Developers previously had to work around the App Store’s anti-emulator guidelines and would occasionally hide them within games or offer them exclusively on jailbroken phones. They’re now able to list the emulators openly on the App Store as long as the software complies with Apple’s safety guidelines.
