Apple removed the iGBA Game Boy emulator from the App Store due to it being a copycat version of the open-source GBA4iOS app with added ads, clarifying that emulators are permitted to load ROMs downloaded from the web as long as they emulate retro console games only. The company updated its guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, but it remains to be seen how Nintendo will react to this decision.
Apple removed the iGBA Game Boy emulator from the App Store due to violations of its App Review Guidelines related to spam and copyright, following complaints of it being a copycat version of the open-source GBA4iOS app with excessive ads. It is unclear if Nintendo's complaint about pirated games was a factor. The removal comes just after Apple updated its guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, but it remains uncertain what will be allowed. Developer Riley Testut plans to distribute his new emulator, Delta, outside the App Store.
Apple's App Store now allows game emulators, with the Game Boy emulator iGBA being the first to be listed for iPad and iPhone. Users can download iGBA for free and play ROMs, with features like save states and fast forwarding. While the emulator includes ads, its availability suggests a shift in Apple's rules, potentially paving the way for similar apps to arrive on the platform.
