Apple allows retro game emulators on the App Store

For a considerable time, game emulators have faced prohibitions on the App Store, driving users, especially in Europe, towards alternative marketplaces in search of these applications. However, in a recent development, Apple has announced a significant policy change. As of Friday, the company revealed that game emulators would now be welcomed on the App Store worldwide, provided they feature downloadable games that adhere to "all applicable laws". This caveat suggests a zero-tolerance stance towards any apps facilitating access to pirated content.

This policy shift is expected to pave the way for the ingress of retro console emulators, which have found a home on Android, to finally make their presence felt on iOS. Previously, the absence of these emulators from Apple's ecosystem left iPhone users resorting to jailbreaking and other alternative methods. This change may also serve to deter iPhone users in the European Union from exploring third-party app stores, a practice permitted within the region.

In addition to modifying the stance on emulators, Apple has also updated its guidelines concerning super apps, such as WeChat. The new policy mandates that mini-games and mini-apps embedded within these super apps employ HTML5, explicitly excluding native apps and games. This update seems to be a reaction to antitrust litigation in the United States, which accuses Apple of suppressing competition in the realm of cloud game streaming apps and super apps alike.

Moreover, Apple's recent rule alterations may be in response to pressure from the European Commission. The tech giant has now adjusted its policies to permit music streaming apps in the European Union to direct users to external purchasing options and disclose pricing information within the app. However, this modification has not been met with universal acclaim, with entities like Spotify criticizing Apple for continuing to levy commissions on purchases made via these external links, despite European Union directives advocating for freer communication between music streaming apps and their users.

Spotify, expressing dissatisfaction with Apple's policy adjustments, argues that compliance with legal directives is not an option but a mandatory requirement. With the European Commission poised to undertake non-compliance proceedings against Apple from April 6th, including the imposition of daily fines, the call for decisive measures grows louder, in hopes of securing genuine consumer choice.