In an update, Apple has announced that game emulators can come to the App Store globally and offer downloadable games. At the same time, the company warned that developers are responsible for making sure that they follow copyright rules.
Android users already have access to emulators to play old classics on their devices. Apple’s update may encourage some of those developers to bring their emulators to the App Store.
Retro game emulators run ROM files or images on the game cartridges or discs that played on console hardware. The emulators themselves are completely legal, but the legality of the ROM files downloaded from ROM sites on the Internet depends on the specific files and circumstances. Apple has said that these emulator apps must use an in-app purchase mechanism to offer digital items.
While releasing the first set of rules in compliance with EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules in January, Apple announced that it would allow streaming game stores globally. Further, it updated App Store rules at that time to support in-app purchases for mini-games and AI chatbots.
Apple has also updated its rules around super apps like WeChat. It now says that mini-games and mini-apps within these apps must use HTML5 and that they can’t be native apps and games. Apple recently started allowing Cloud streaming service, like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now, onto the App Store.
Another upgrade to the rules allows music streaming services to display information about subscriptions and other digital buys along with links to drive users to their website to complete the purchase.