Apple quickly removed the first GameBoy emulator from the App Store. But what was the real reason that the app disappeared?
Apple immediately removes its first emulator from the App Store (here’s why)
Recently an emulator (iGBA) for the Nintendo GameBoy (Advance) suddenly appeared in the App Store. However, you had to be quick because the app was quickly removed from the App Store. But what was the exact reason that this app was no longer allowed?
Now you might think that Apple has removed the app, because iGBA allows you to play ROMs of old Nintendo games. But that turns out not to be the real reason. Apple even admits to MacRumors that emulators are allowed in the App Store and that they can use ROMs (downloaded from the internet). But Apple did say that this is only allowed if there is also an emulator for a ‘retro console’.
No, the official reason Apple removed the iGBA app so quickly was because it was a copy of another emulator called GBA4iOS. This emulator has been around for some time and iGBA copied this developer’s work. This is against the guidelines of the App Store and the app was therefore quickly dismissed.
It remains to be seen what Nintendo thinks of the emulator for their console in the App Store. The Japanese game and console manufacturer has been waging a battle against emulators and ROMs of their old games for years. MacRumors has already asked Nintendo for comment, but the company has not yet responded.
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