Updated A few developers have come to terms with Apple’s latest rules regarding video game emulators in the App Store and have concluded that the iGiant doesn’t approve of software that emulates an entire operating system.
The developers of the DOS emulator iDOS and the multi-OS emulator UTM both posted that Apple has rejected their wares from the App Store, which they submitted in the wake of the changes to the iOS App Review Guideline made to to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The rule in question – Section 4.7 – was added to Apple’s App Review Guidelines earlier this year and allows certain software, such as video game emulators, to access and download content outside of their designated container area. The latest review effectively acts as an exception to Section 2.5.2, which requires all apps to be self-contained and not allow them to read or write data that would introduce changes to functionality.
Chaoji Li, the developer of iDOS, said he was forced to resubmit his work for review of its suitability for the App Store after section 4.7 was added. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t think a rule designed for game emulators applies to its app.
“[Apple has] decided that iDOS is not a retro game console, so the new rule does not apply,” Li wrote last week in an update to an earlier blog post. “They suggested that I make changes and resubmit for review, but when I asked what changes I needed to make to comply with the rules, they had no idea, nor when I asked what a retro gaming console is.”
UTM’s developers reported a similar experience: they submitted a version of UTM that doesn’t use “just in time” compilation to run on iOS without the need to jailbreak a device, and did so when section 4.7 was added to the Review Guidelines. Apple’s reasons for rejecting the app were the same as those applied to iDOS.
“[Apple’s] The reasoning is that rule 4.7 … does NOT apply to UTM SE” because “‘PC is not a console,'” the developer wrote in a post on that UTM SE has an insufficient experience and is not worth fighting for.”
UTM SE was also rejected for certification for third-party app stores in the EU, the developer said, based on section 2.5.2, because section 4.7 only applies to apps published in Apple’s App Store.
Either way, it seems possible that Apple isn’t entirely consistent with its reasoning for banning OS emulators. The rules concern apps being allowed to go outside their binary to retrieve content that could change their functionality – something both console games and OS applications can do.
Of course, there’s an easy security argument to make as to why Apple won’t allow users to emulate entire operating systems on their iPhones. The iGiant has long been against sideloaded apps and has warned users against using them, saying any code that Cupertino can’t fathom could pose security and privacy risks. An operating system is much more complex than a single app and can pose many more security issues.
We’ve asked Apple for an explanation about the rejection of the OS emulators and will update when/if we hear back.
Apple was also accused by EU officials this week of violating the DMA, alleging that it failed to comply with rules that allow app developers to direct users outside the App Store for purchases. ®
Updated to add on June 26, 2024:
UTM’s developers told us that UTM SE was the only app they submitted. “Normal UTM requires permissions that Apple does not provide to third-party iOS developers for JIT and therefore there is no way to submit them.”
They added: “UTM SE will be distributed in unsigned form to jailbreak users and owners of enterprise signing certificates and developer signing certificates.”