Apple’s approval of UTM SE follows the revision of its App Store Guidelines in April, which began allowing game emulators globally, including in the European Union. This guideline change spurred the introduction of various game emulators on the App Store, such as the widely acclaimed Nintendo emulator Delta.
Despite this shift, UTM SE faced rejection from Apple in June, not only from the global App Store but also from third-party marketplaces in the EU. Apple’s reasoning was that only “retro game” emulators were permitted, excluding PC emulators, even though retro gaming is a primary use case for PC emulators like UTM SE.
This rejection sparked significant backlash and prompted potential scrutiny from the European Commission. However, in a surprising turn of events, the developers of UTM SE announced on social media over the weekend that Apple had reversed its decision. UTM SE is now available for download from the App Store and will soon be accessible via AltStore PAL in the EU. Apple has not provided a detailed explanation for this reversal.
What UTM SE Offers
UTM SE is a robust PC emulator that enables users to run classic software and old-school games on their iPhones and iPads. Here are some key features:
- Supports VGA Mode: For graphics and terminal mode for text-only operating systems.
- Emulates Multiple Architectures: Including x86, PPC, and RISC-V.
- Flexible Configurations: Users can run pre-built machines or create custom configurations from scratch.
- Powered by QEMU: Built on QEMU, a powerful and widely-used emulator, ensuring a reliable emulation experience.
Limitations on iOS
It’s important to note that iOS apps cannot utilize a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler, which affects the functionality and performance of emulators. Consequently, the performance of emulated systems running through UTM SE on iPhones and iPads may not match that of other platforms.
Apple’s approval of UTM SE is a milestone for iOS users interested in emulating older PC systems. This decision aligns with the company’s recent openness towards game emulators and could pave the way for more diverse emulation apps in the future. Whether you’re a retro gaming enthusiast or need to run classic software, UTM SE provides a new avenue to explore these experiences on your Apple devices.