London, England – A new emulator called iGBA made it possible for users to play Game Boy Advance games on their iPhones, marking the first appearance of such an emulator on Apple’s App Store since the company started allowing emulators globally. However, concerns rose as it seemed that iGBA may not be the original work of its developer, Mattia La Spina.
While La Spina did not explicitly confirm using code from another developer, Riley Testut, he expressed frustration towards Apple rather than La Spina himself. Testut, in a statement, mentioned disappointment in Apple approving a knock-off of AltStore’s flagship app Delta, which he had been working with Apple to release as an alternative app marketplace.
Further digging into iGBA revealed potential privacy issues, as the app allegedly collects user data such as location data and identifiers. Those interested in using the emulator have been advised to review La Spina’s privacy policy on Github before proceeding. Despite concerns, some users reported not being prompted for location data permission upon loading the app, and the in-app browser tracker consent form was not visible to all users.
In addition to iGBA, another emulator named Emu64 XL—a Commodore 64 emulator—was uncovered by Parker Ortolani of The Verge. Emu64 XL came with a consent request form that displayed a multitude of tracker toggles, raising privacy concerns among users. The emulator’s complex tracking systems led some users to opt-out.
Apple’s historically tight control over the App Store is beginning to loosen, with the EU’s Digital Markets Act pushing for the allowance of other app stores and sideloading on iPhones. The company currently faces a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice, indicating possible future changes to Apple’s policies. The decision to allow emulators on the App Store may be a response to these upcoming legal challenges.
Overall, while the approval of emulators on the App Store is seen as a positive step towards more openness, concerns remain about the origin of certain apps and their potential privacy implications. As the debate around app store regulations continues, developers like Testut and La Spina will likely need to adapt to new standards and expectations in the digital marketplace.