Apple updates App Store guidelines to allow game emulators

A big difference between the Google Play Store on Android and Apple App Store is that the latter is tightly closed. But things are changing, with the Cupertino giant updating the policies and allowing game emulators to be in the store. That means iPhone users don't need to go through any hassle to enjoy console emulation on their phones.

To fill you in, before this change on the App Store, Apple users would need to jailbreak their devices to sideload game emulators. Of course, there was another workaround, which was to download apps hiding an emulator inside. But you really didn't have many options with that specific method.

However, with the update to guidelines, a good number of popular retro console emulators should soon be making their way to the Apple App Store. This move to bring changes is in response to the antitrust lawsuit filed by the US and the anti-steering mandate imposed by the European Commission.

That means the game emulator change for the App Store applies globally, not just to the European regions. Apple also said that the emulators can offer downloadable games, but they must comply with "all applicable laws." This hints that the company will likely ban apps that allow users to pirate titles.

Besides the change in terms of game console emulators, the Cupertino tech giant has introduced other changes. That includes allowing music streaming apps such as Spotify to redirect users to external websites, but this change only applies in the EU. Besides, Apple has updated rules for super apps like WeChat, making HTML5 use mandatory for mini-apps and games within these apps.

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