Apple Removes Unauthorized Game Boy Emulator App from App Store
In a swift move, Apple has taken down iGBA, an iPhone app that emulated Game Boy games, shortly after its weekend launch. The app was one of the first to take advantage of Apple’s recent policy changes, which now allow apple-allows-retro-game-emulators-on-app-store-worldwide/” title=”Apple Allows Retro Game Emulators on App Store Worldwide”>retro game emulators on the App Store. These changes were implemented following pressure from EU regulators, who compelled Apple to open up to competitors like AltStore, an alternative app store aiming to provide game emulators and Patreon-backed apps to iPhone users.
iGBA: A Short-Lived Game Boy Emulator
Released on Sunday, iGBA was an ad-supported version of the open-source project GBA4iOS, offering Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color emulation on iOS. Users could download ROMs from the internet and play them within the app. However, the app was submitted to the App Store without the consent of Riley Testut, the developer behind GBA4iOS, AltStore, and Delta, a popular Nintendo emulator.
Developer Frustration and Intellectual Property Concerns
Testut expressed his frustration on Threads, stating that he had not given anyone permission to use his work, yet the unauthorized app was topping the charts despite being riddled with ads and tracking. He also pointed out the irony of App Review’s existence, which is meant to protect consumers from scams and rip-offs.
While some argued that the GBA4iOS emulator was distributed under a GNU GPL v2 license, which should have allowed copies, Testut had added a custom restriction prohibiting App Store distribution for any work containing the code. This restriction, however, was questioned by others who claimed it was not technically permitted under GPL v2.
Apple’s Response and App Store Guidelines
Apple ultimately decided to remove the knock-off app for violating its App Store guidelines related to spam and copyright (rules 4.3 and 5.2), effectively siding with Testut despite its initial oversight. The company clarified that while the app’s functionality was approved, upon learning that it was copying another developer’s submission and passing it off as its own, it took action in accordance with its guidelines.
The Impact of the EU’s Digital Markets Act
Apple’s decision to open up the App Store to game emulators and streaming game stores comes as a result of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The tech giant had previously announced that it would allow streaming game stores globally to comply with the new regulation, but the additional support for retro game emulators was only added this month. While Apple stipulated that games must use in-app purchases for digital item downloads, potentially opening another revenue stream, the iGBA app was free and ad-supported, making its removal inconsequential to Apple’s bottom line.
1 Comment
So, Apple’s playing gatekeeper again, huh? Classic move.