Apple has approved UTM SE, a cutting-edge PC emulator for iPhone and iPad. This new addition to the App Store allows users to emulate older versions of Windows, macOS, and other operating systems on their mobile devices, opening up a world of classic software and vintage gaming.
Earlier this year, Apple updated its App Store Guidelines in April, which paved the way for game emulators to be released globally. This change led to the introduction of popular apps like the Nintendo emulator Delta. Despite this policy shift, Apple initially rejected UTM SE in June. The company stated that the new guidelines only applied to "retro game" emulators, not PC emulators. This rejection wasn't just limited to the global App Store; it also affected third-party app marketplaces in the European Union, sparking controversy and drawing the attention of the European Commission.
Over the past weekend, the developers of UTM SE announced on social media that Apple had reversed its decision. UTM SE is now available for download from the App Store and will soon be accessible through AltStore PAL in the EU. While Apple has not provided an official reason for this change, the availability of UTM SE represents a significant shift in the company's stance on emulation software.
UTM SE is specifically designed to run classic software and vintage games. It supports VGA mode for graphical outputs and terminal mode for text-only operating systems. The emulator can simulate x86, PPC, and RISC-V architectures, giving users the flexibility to run pre-configured machines or create custom setups from scratch. Built on the reliable and widely-used QEMU emulator, UTM SE does have one notable limitation: iOS apps cannot use a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler. This means that while UTM SE can emulate older operating systems and games, its performance on iPhone and iPad may not match that of other platforms.
The approval of UTM SE marks a pivotal moment for Apple, reflecting the evolving landscape of app regulations and the growing user demand for versatile emulation software. This development is expected to delight tech enthusiasts and gamers who have long awaited the ability to run retro Windows and macOS games on their Apple devices.
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