Apple Removes iGBA Game Boy Emulator from App Store for Violating Guidelines
Apple recently made the decision to remove the iGBA Game Boy emulator from the App Store due to violations of the platform’s App Review Guidelines. The emulator, which quickly gained popularity and rose to the top of the charts, was deemed to be in violation of guidelines related to spam and copyright.
The iGBA emulator was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut’s open-source GBA4iOS app, a move that left Testut feeling displeased with the knock-off version being approved and filled with ads. This incident raises questions about Apple’s stance on allowing ROM-loading apps in the App Store, especially as it is unclear if Nintendo had any involvement in the removal of iGBA.
Interestingly, Apple had only recently allowed “retro game console emulators” on the App Store just before the removal of iGBA. However, the guidelines surrounding these types of apps remain vague, leaving developers and users alike uncertain about the platform’s policies.
In response to the removal of iGBA, Testut has plans to distribute his newer Nintendo game emulator, Delta, through his alternative app marketplace. In the meantime, Apple clarified that iGBA was taken down for being a knockoff app that copied another developer’s submission, likely referring to GBA4iOS.
As the situation continues to unfold, developers and users will be keeping a close eye on Apple’s policies surrounding emulator apps and ROM-loading capabilities on the App Store. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.
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