Apple has officially allowed retro game emulators on the App Store.
Apple on Friday made a number of changes to its App Store guidelines to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Among those changes is the ability for game emulators to work on that platform for the first time.
First discovered by 9to5MacIn addition to allowing developers to create and distribute game emulators for iOS, Apple’s updated guidelines will also allow retro game emulator apps to offer downloadable games.
The guidelines do that. However, anyone who creates an emulator app is responsible for “all software provided in the app, including ensuring that such software complies with these guidelines and all applicable laws. Please flag “I am responsible for this”. This allows emulators to be released by companies that own the rights to the games that can eventually be played on them.
In addition to changes to how game emulators are handled in the App Store, Apple has introduced a new “Music Streaming Service Qualification” for apps distributed within the EU. These guidelines allow music streaming apps in certain regions to include links to external websites, including purchase buttons.
Earlier this month, Apple was fined $1.9 billion by the European Union for restricting music streaming app developers from sharing subscription options outside of Apple’s App Store.
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