In response to regulatory pressures from both the US and the EU, Apple has made a significant announcement regarding retro game emulators on the iOS App Store, albeit with notable restrictions. The adjustment was noted in Apple's App Review Guidelines, now permitting "retro game console emulator apps to offer to download games." However, there are conditions attached.
Apple asserts that developers bear responsibility for all software within their apps, emphasizing compliance with "all applicable laws," a particularly complex issue given the ambiguous legal status of emulators. Legally, running an emulated game without proper ownership is prohibited, potentially limiting the practical application of this change to major companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo.
Furthermore, the revised guidelines now permit the inclusion of mini apps and games within larger apps, provided they are coded in HTML5. This impacts comprehensive apps like WeChat, mandating that such auxiliary features be web-based rather than native to the device.
Simultaneously, another guideline amendment allows music streaming apps to link to external websites for purchasing products and services, circumventing Apple's ecosystem and associated fees. However, this modification exclusively applies within EU countries, reflecting recent EU fines imposed on Apple for restricting streaming services to its platform and levying a 30% fee on transactions.