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With the advent of increased third-party support on iOS, video game emulators have rushed to the App Store to fill in the gap. The first bunch has been primarily for old Commodore 64 and GameBoy titles. However, this could soon change as we may see an emulator capable of running Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn games. The app in question is called Provenance EMU. In an email to news site iMore, project lead Joseph Mattiello said his team is working on launching their software to the App Store. Provenance, if you’re not familiar, can run titles from a variety of consoles, including famous ones such as the Super Nintendo and more obscure machines. It’s unknown when the emulator will make its debut. Mattiello states they also need to make some quality-of-life fixes first and he wants to “investigate” the new rules. The report doesn’t explain what he’s referring to, but Mattiello may be talking about the recent changes Apple made to the App Review Guidelines. Lines were added in early April stating “developers are responsible for all the software inside their apps”. Plus, emulators need to “comply with all applicable laws”. WarningPlease note the use of emulators may be in violation of the game developer and publisher terms and conditions as well as applicable intellectual property laws. These will vary so please check these. Emulators should only ever be used with your own purchased game copy. TechRadar does not condone or encourage the illegal downloading of games or actions infringing copyright. This could put third-party developers under deep scrutiny by gaming publishers. Nintendo, for example, is not afraid to sic its lawyers after developers it claims are violating the law. Look at what happened with Yuzu. Game emulation currently exists in a legally gray area. Despite this, they have been allowed to exist, but one wrong move could bring the hammer down. So, Mattiello wants to ensure his team won’t be stepping on any landmines at launch. If all goes well, we could see a new era of mobile gaming; one where the titles aren’t just sidescrollers with sprites, but games featuring fleshed-out 3D models and environments. What to play We don’t recommend downloading random ROMs of games off the internet. Not only could they violate intellectual property laws, but they can also hold malware. These digital libraries aren’t the most secure. So if and when Provenance is released on the App Store, what can people play? At the moment, it seems users will have to try out homebrew games. They’re independently made titles that copy certain graphical styles for emulators. iMore recommends PSX Place, a website where hobbyists come together to share their homebrewed PlayStation games. Itch.io is another great resource. If you ever wanted to play a fan adaptation of Twin Peaks, Itch.io has one available. For GameBoy-style titles, Homebrew Hub has tons of fan-made projects. Personally, we would love to see publishers like Sony and Nintendo release their games on iOS. That way, people can enjoy the classics without skirting the law. For those looking to upgrade, check out TechRadar's guide for the best iPhone for 2024. You might also like Want a retro gaming emulator on your iPhone? Apple just clarified the state of play on iOSThe first third-party iOS app store is live in the EU – and another Nintendo emulator just showed upThe latest iOS 17.5 beta gives iPhone users in the EU a new way to download apps View the full article

In another move that seems to have been made in response to pressure from regulators in the US and in the EU, Apple has announced that retro game emulators will be allowed in the iOS App Store – though there are some fairly big caveats attached. The change has been spotted on Apple's App Review Guidelines (via The Verge), which now state that "retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games". As you would expect though, there are some strings attached. Apple says developers are responsible for all the software inside their apps, and says these emulators must comply with "all applicable laws" – and of course the legality of emulators has always been something of a gray area. Technically speaking, it is against the law to run an emulated version of a game that you've not actually paid for (even if you're paying for the emulator). That might mean it's only companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo who will be able to take advantage of the App Store rule changes and offer these emulator apps. Mini apps and music streaming Spotify has long complained about Apple's practices (Image credit: Spotify) What's more, the updated guidelines also state that apps can include mini apps and mini games inside them, as long as they're written in HTML5. This applies to so-called 'super apps' such as WeChat, which offer a bunch of different apps in the same package – these apps must now be web-based rather than running natively on the device. Another edit to the guidelines that's happened at the same time is allowing music streaming apps to link out to external websites for purchasing products and services, getting around Apple App Store and linked payment systems. Unlike the retro game emulators change though, this one only applies in European Union countries. Apple was recently fined by the EU for keeping streaming services locked inside its own walled garden, with the associated 30% cut of any fees. Apple hasn't officially said so, but both these moves are clearly designed to avoid further fines and further legal action: Apple is now under more scrutiny than ever when it comes to the restrictions it puts on third-party apps and developers. You might also like The US is right about Apple's market powerApple's poison-pill approach to EU regulation might be the right thing to doThe iPhone isn't a monopoly – and here's why View the full article

Apple today updated its App Store guidelines to comply with an anti-steering mandate levied by the European Commission. Music streaming apps like Spotify are now permitted to include a link or buy button that leads to a website with information about alternative music purchasing options, though this is only permitted in the European Economic Area. Music Streaming Services Entitlements: music streaming apps in specific regions can use Music Streaming Services Entitlements to include a link (which may take the form of a buy button) to the developer's website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital music content or services. These entitlements also permit music streaming app developers to invite users to provide their email address for the express purpose of sending them a link to the developer's website to purchase digital music content or services. Learn more about these entitlements. In accordance with the entitlement agreements, the link may inform users about where and how to purchase those in-app purchase items, and the price of such items. The entitlements are limited to use only in the iOS or iPadOS App Store in specific storefronts. In all other storefronts, streaming music apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.The European Commission in March fined Apple $2 billion for anti-competitive conduct against rival music streaming services. The fine also came with a requirement that Apple "remove the anti-steering provisions" from its App Store rules, which Apple has now done. Apple is restricted from repeating the infringement or adopting similar practices in the future, though it is worth noting that Apple plans to appeal the decision. Apple has accused Spotify of manipulating the European Commission to get the rules of the ‌App Store‌ rewritten in its favor. "They want to use Apple's tools and technologies, distribute on the ‌App Store‌, and benefit from the trust we've built with users - and pay Apple nothing for it," Apple complained following the ruling. In addition to updating its streaming music rules, Apple today also added games from retro game console emulator apps to the list of permitted software allowable under guideline 4.7. Guideline 4.7 permits apps to offer HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, game emulators, and plug-ins.Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games. You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws. Game emulators have managed to sneak onto the ‌App Store‌ several times over the years by using hidden functionality, but Apple has not explicitly permitted them until now. The rule change that allows for game emulators is worldwide, as is support for apps that offer mini apps and mini games.Tags: App Store, Spotify, European Union, App Store Review Guidelines This article, "Apple Updates App Store Guidelines to Permit Game Emulators, Website Links in EU Music Apps" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article