Apple has authorized since the beginning of the monthretro console emulators in the App Store. This measure was not announced as such, but given the frequency of its implementation, we imagine that Apple initiated it with the aim of complying with the DMA. Following the lifting of the ban, many emulators appeared in the App Store,but immediately disappeared, probably for intellectual property issues.
The arrival of emulators on iPhone therefore did not happen without incident, but that does not detract from theambitions of developers ready to respect the rules. This is particularly the case ofDelta, which we introduced to you yesterday. Delta allows you to play retro Nintendo consoles on your iPhone, whether it's the Super NES, the Nintendo 64, or the Game Boy Color and Advance.
A new major player is also expected to join console emulators in the App Store. It is aboutPPSSPP, the PSP emulator,but the situation is not clear regarding its arrival on iPhone. Its creator is in the dark.
The PSP is also now 20 years old, and can quite be considered a retro console. For many of us, it was our first true all-in-one multimedia portable device, with which we could play games, listen to music, watch movies, even take photos or video call, for those who had go! cam. This was several years before the release of the iPhone.
Still this legal problem
The rule imposed by Apple on console emulators is therespect for intellectual property. To do this, it requires them to provide a download link for all the games offered to users. A rule that puts obstacles in the way of a good number of emulators, who do not always have the necessary rights to provide games legally.
Often the emulator just provides access to the retro console, and doesn't care what users are playing. This is particularly the case with PPSSPP which offers access to the PSP interface, then people manage with their files. The founder of PPSSPP, Henrik Rydgård, asks questions in an article on this subject:
Since we do not own the rights to PSP games, we cannot offer them for download through the app, users must still obtain the games themselves.
He adds that we do not know at the moment “whether emulators will be allowed to let the user choose from their own files, and not just in-app downloads.»
If Apple agrees that users can use their own files with PPSSPP, then the emulator will join the App Store soon. Otherwise, the founder specifies that there is little interest in offering it.
UPDATE: we now know the real reason that prevents PPSSPP from joining the App Store.
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By : Keleops AG
