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Apple Removes iGBA Emulator from App Store
Apple recently made the decision to allow retro game emulator applications on the App Store, which was initially met with excitement. However, one popular Game Boy emulator, iGBA, has already been removed from the store. Apple clarified that iGBA seemed to be a knockoff of another emulator, rather than directly copying Nintendo’s intellectual property.
Riley Testut’s Reaction
Riley Testut, the developer of the well-known Game Boy emulator GBA4IOS, expressed surprise at the presence of iGBA on the App Store. He indicated that iGBA appeared to have replicated his emulator without his consent and was filled with advertisements and tracking functionalities. Testut highlighted the importance of Apple’s App Review process in preventing instances like this.
“So apparently Apple approved a knock-off of GBA4iOS — the predecessor to Delta I made in high school — in the App Store,” said Testut.
Following Apple’s decision to remove iGBA, Testut mentioned that the developer behind iGBA apologized to him for the situation, implying that there was some acknowledgment of the wrongfulness of the action. MacRumors reported that iGBA violated specific sections of Apple’s App Review Guidelines related to spam and intellectual property violations.
Apple’s Updated Guidelines and Emulator Approval
Apple had recently updated its guidelines to include the allowance of retro game emulators on the App Store, aligning with the European Commission’s anti-steering regulations. This move granted users the opportunity to access such apps globally, with the stipulation that they do not infringe on existing emulators.
Despite the temporary presence of iGBA and the still-available Emu64XL Commodore 64 emulator, Apple’s explicit approval of retro game emulators marks a significant shift in policy. While a few emulators managed to sneak onto the App Store in previous years, this recent decision provides a clearer framework for their inclusion.
However, it appears that enthusiasts looking to play Game Boy games on their iPhones may have to wait a bit longer as the situation unfolds.
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