Apple recently adjusted its App Store rules, deleting the relevant provisions that previously prohibited the use of emulators on iPhones and iPads, and adding new content related to mini-games, mini-applications, and game emulators.
Apple recently added a new 4.7 clause to the App Store application review. The relevant content as follows:
4.7 Mini Apps, Mini Games, Streaming Games, Chatbots and Plugins
Certain software may be provided without embedded binaries in Apps, in particular mini-Apps, mini-games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. You are responsible for all such software provided in your App, including ensuring that such software complies with the guidelines of these Guidelines and all applicable laws. Software that violates one or more of the guidelines will result in your app being rejected. You must also ensure that the software complies with the additional rules in 4.7.1 and 4.7.5. These additional rules are important to maintain the experience App Store users have come to expect and help keep users safe.
4.7.1 Software provided in an App under these Rules must:
Comply with all privacy provisions, including but not limited to Guideline 5.1 regarding the collection, use and sharing of data and sensitive data (such as health data and children’s personal data);
Add ways to screen for objectionable content, mechanisms to report content and promptly respond to concerns, and the ability to block abusive users;
Use in-app purchases to provide digital goods or services to end users.
4.7.2 Your App may not extend or expose the software’s native platform API without Apple’s prior permission.
4.7.3 In each instance, your App may not share the data or privacy rights of any individual piece of software provided in your App without the user’s explicit consent.
4.7.4 You must provide an index of the software and metadata available in your App, which must include universal links to all software available in your App.
4.7.5 Your App must use an age rating based on the highest age rating for the content available in the App.
Currently in the game industry, the emulator itself is legal. The key to the problem lies in the ROM used by the user. If the user uses a purchased ROM, it is also legal. However, if the user uses an unpurchased ROM or one produced by some third-party channels Cracking the ROM is controversial.
There are already a range of emulators available for Mac and other platforms. These emulators are likely to come to iOS and iPadOS soon.
