Earlier this month, Apple quietly tweaked its Apple Store review guidelines, adding new language specifically stating that "retro console emulator apps may provide game downloads," marking the first time the company has allowed emulators on iOS . Long live!
It didn't take long for someone to take advantage of this newfound advantage: Game Boy emulator iGBA debuted on the App Store over the weekend and quickly shot to the top of the free app charts. This introductory emulator appears to follow Apple's new rules: since piracy is apparently illegal, the app can only run ROMs that you downloaded yourself into the Files app on your iPhone. iPhone gamers rejoice. Just days after the emulator was launched, Apple removed the emulator from the market. iPhone players mourn.
While we still don't know why Apple canceled iGBA, there seems to be a possible explanation - and it has nothing to do with pirated games. Developer Riley Testut took to Threads on Sunday to highlight that iGBA appears to be a knock-off of their own emulator, GBA4iOS. Even though Testut didn't give permission to use his code, iGBA still managed to pass Apple's strict app review process and land on the App Store.
Tetsut have been trying to launch their alternative app store AltStore in the EU for over a month now, with plans to release Delta (a revised version of GBA4iOS) once that happens. With all this up in the air, Testsut says he's particularly frustrated that Apple was so quick to approve copies of his apps.
Still, Apple seems to take Testut's claims seriously. I assume the company launched an investigation and once Apple confirmed that iGBA was indeed made from stolen code, it immediately removed it from the App Store.
The process appears to follow what's outlined in the company's app review guidelines:
"Make sure your application only contains content that you created or that you have permission to use. If you cross the line and use content without permission, your app may be removed. Of course, this also means that if someone else "borrows" your work, their application may be removed.
"There is much to be learned from this experience. First, don't steal. This is wrong and no matter how successful you are, Apple will remove you from the App Store because of your behavior. Secondly, and more relevant to most of us, don't download the first emulator that comes to the iOS App Store. Tetsut says iGBA is rife with ads and tracking, meaning those happy retro gamers playing Pokémon on their iPhones this weekend may have their privacy violated. There's no evidence that iGBA is malicious , but it's easy to imagine another emulator app sneaking into the App Store with malicious intent.
Although you can't download iGBA later, if you already have iGBA installed, it won't disappear from your iPhone. Although you can continue to use it, given the situation, I recommend that you delete it. While this change in Apple's policy is positive, it's important to take a breath: I'm sure Apple will be stricter about its emulation reviews in the future, but it's best to wait until emulators have been further scrutinized. Dive into your favorite retro games.
