Apple Approves The App Store's First PC Emulator

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel exhilarated by this latest development from Apple. For years, emulation on iOS has been limited to retro console systems, leaving PC gamers out in the cold. But now, with UTE SE’s approval on the App Store, it feels like a new era of mobile gaming is upon us.


For the first time, Apple has changed its stance and made it possible to obtain a PC emulator, named UTE SE, on the iPhone and iPad App Store. This application enables the simulation of DOS, Windows, and Mac operating systems. It’s now available for download at no cost.

As a seasoned app developer, I can tell you that getting an app approved is a long and often challenging process. So when I heard the news from UTM developers on X via Twitter about their app’s approval, I was thrilled for them. Their tweets were filled with gratitude towards several collaborators who had assisted them in this journey. One tweet expressed appreciation to the AltStore team for their support and to Apple for reconsidering their initial policy. Another shout-out went out to a specific collaborator whose QEMU TCTI implementation proved crucial in creating a JIT-less build.

Apple Approves The App Store's First PC Emulator

As a long-time user of various emulators to run old software on my modern devices, I find UTE SE to be an impressive addition to the App Store. Unlike other emulators, it doesn’t come with an operating system pre-installed in the app itself. Instead, it offers pre-built virtual machines that you can download and install, such as Linux, MacOS 9.2.1, and DOS.

Based on 9to5Mac’s report, Apple had previously turned down an app due to its being a retro game console emulator. While a PC emulator can serve various purposes, it primarily allows users to run older games. Apple has yet to make an official statement regarding this seemingly new policy. Console emulators have been popular choices among iOS and Apple TV users, with many ranking high in the charts.

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2024-07-15 22:39