Apr 16, 2024 10:48:00

Why did Apple immediately remove a Game Boy emulator app that was approved for the App Store?

On April 5, 2024, Apple updated its App Store review guidelines to explicitly allow the distribution of retro game console emulator apps, leading to the appearance of the Game Boy emulator '

iGBA ' on the App Store. However, on April 14, 2024, Apple announced that 'iGBA has been removed from the App Store for violating Apple's app review guidelines related to spam and copyright.'

Apple Removes Game Boy Emulator iGBA From App Store Due to Spam and Copyright Violations - MacRumors
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/04/15/apple-removes-igba-from-app-store/

Apple pulls Game Boy emulator app from the App Store
https://qz.com/apple-game-boy-emulator-app-store-1851411823

Until now, Apple has prohibited apps that run code from external sources, such as emulator apps. However, on April 5, 2024, Apple began allowing the distribution of retro game emulator apps in order to comply with the European Commission's new anti-steering guidelines. In its updated App Store review guidelines, Apple clarifies that 'You may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, such as HTML5 mini-apps or mini-games, streaming games, chatbots, and plugins.'

Apple allows retro game console emulator apps to be released on the App Store - GIGAZINE

In response to this, iGBA, a Game Boy emulator for iPhone, appeared on App Stores around the world on April 14, 2024. iGBA became popular and rose to the top of the 'Developer Tools' category on the App Store within a week of its release.

However, Apple removed iGBA from the App Store on April 14, 2024. Apple cited 'violation of Apple's App Review Guidelines related to spam and copyright ' as the reason for the removal.

Regarding iGBA, developer Riley Testotto pointed out, 'Apparently, Apple approved a knock-off of GBA4iOS , a Game Boy emulator I created in high school, for the App Store. I never gave anyone permission to create or distribute a knock-off, and now iGBA is at the top of the charts.'

Testotto later revealed that he had received an apology from the iGBA developer.

Apple provided the following details about the removal of iGBA: 'While the iGBA function itself was approved, it was a counterfeit app that copied software from another developer. We have removed the app from the App Store.'