Apple says no to PC emulators on iOS

Apple mightiness yet let retro video crippled emulators connected the App Store, but this month, the institution rejected submissions of iDOS 3, a caller mentation of the fashionable DOS emulator, and UTM SE, an app that lets you emulate operating systems similar Windows connected iOS. In some instances, Apple said the caller releases interruption guideline 4.7 of the App Review Guidelines, which is the 1 that allows for retro crippled emulators.

Chaoji Li, the developer of iDOS 3, shared immoderate of Apple’s reasoning for the rejection with The Verge. “The app provides emulator functionality but is not emulating a retro crippled console specifically,” according to Apple’s notice. “Only emulators of retro crippled consoles are due per line 4.7.”

“When I asked what changes I should marque to beryllium compliant, they had nary idea, nor erstwhile I asked what a retro crippled console is,” Li said successful a blog post. “It’s inactive the aforesaid aged unreasonable reply on the enactment of ‘we cognize it erstwhile we spot it.’”

UTM posted astir its rejection connected X. “The App Store Review Board determined that ‘PC is not a console’ careless of the information that determination are retro Windows / DOS games for the PC that UTM SE tin beryllium utile successful running,” according to the post.

UTM besides noted that Apple is barring UTM SE from being notarized for third-party app stores due to the fact that the app seemingly violated guideline 2.5.2. That regularisation states that apps person to beryllium self-contained and can’t execute codification “which introduces oregon changes features oregon functionality of the app, including different apps.”

Apple typically hasn’t allowed just-in-time (JIT) compilation. However, and somewhat confusingly, UTM said that UTM SE doesn’t see just-in-time compilation. Additionally, Apple clarified that line 4.7, which allows apps to connection “certain bundle that is not embedded successful the binary,” is “an objection that lone applies to App Store apps” but isn’t 1 that UTM SE qualifies for, UTM said successful a follow-up post.

Apple didn’t reply to a petition for comment.

Unfortunately, arsenic we’ve seen successful different App Store spats, the developers are astatine the mercy of Apple’s fickle decision-making. “In short, arsenic the sole regularisation shaper and enforcer successful [the] iOS ecosystem, they don’t request to beryllium accordant astatine all,” Li said successful an email. And UTM said it isn’t going to propulsion further for UTM SE to beryllium connected the App Store due to the fact that it thinks the app “is a subpar acquisition and isn’t worthy warring for.”

Apple apt opened the doorway to retro crippled emulators successful April successful effect to antitrust scrutiny, portion it launched enactment for third-party app stores successful the EU successful March truthful it can comply with the Digital Markets Act.