Apple Updates App Store Guidelines to Allow PC Game Emulators on iPhones

2 minutes of reading Last updated: August 2, 2024 | 1:47 PM IST

Apple has revised its App Store guidelines for emulator apps to explicitly allow for the download of games for PC emulators. Apple has updated its app notarization guidelines for third-party apps that are submitted for distribution outside of the App Store in the European Union. App Store guidelines 4.7, 4.7.2, and 4.7.3 have subsequently become part of the EU notarization review process. The new guidelines will simplify the approval process for PC emulator apps.

Section 4.7 of the App Review Guidelines has been modified to reflect the changes. The modified Guidelines 4.7 state that mini apps, mini games, streaming games, chatbots, plugins, and game emulators are permitted. Additionally, 4.7.2 states that apps will not extend or expose native platform APIs for software without Apple’s consent, and 4.7.3 warns against apps sharing data or privacy permissions with any individual software offered in the app without user consent.

The change comes after Apple’s App Store approved the UTM SE PC emulator, which lets users emulate old versions of Windows, macOS, and Linux to use classic software and games. Apple initially rejected UTM SE in June, despite retro game emulators being approved in April. Apple said it was limited to console emulators, and PC emulators were excluded. UTM SE was the first PC emulator app to be approved on the App Store.

First published: August 2, 2024 | 1:46 PM IST