Apple’s recent decision to reject submissions of iDOS 3 and UTM SE, two popular emulators, has caused quite a stir in the tech community. This move comes at a time when Apple is under antitrust scrutiny and is trying to navigate the complex world of third-party app stores. Let’s delve into the reasons behind Apple’s rejection and what it means for the future of emulators on the App Store.
It seems that Apple’s rejection of iDOS 3 and UTM SE is based on guideline 4.7 of the App Review Guidelines, which allows for retro game emulators. However, in both instances, Apple cited that the new releases violated this guideline because they were not emulating retro game consoles specifically. This has left developers like Chaoji Li, the developer of iDOS 3, puzzled and frustrated with Apple’s vague reasoning.
Chaoji Li, in response to Apple’s rejection, shared his frustration saying, “It’s still the same old unreasonable answer along the line of ‘we know it when we see it.’ When I asked what changes I should make to be compliant, they had no idea, nor when I asked what a retro game console is.” This lack of clarity from Apple has left developers like Li feeling helpless and at the mercy of Apple’s seemingly arbitrary decision-making process.
UTM SE, another emulator app, faced similar challenges with Apple’s rejection. The App Store Review Board determined that “PC is not a console,” which led to UTM SE being barred from third-party app stores for violating guideline 2.5.2. Despite not including just-in-time compilation, another reason for rejection, UTM SE still did not qualify for the exception under guideline 4.7, leaving the developers perplexed.
Apple’s response, or lack thereof, to requests for clarification on the rejections has only added to the frustration. The developers are left with no choice but to accept Apple’s decisions, as they are the rule makers and enforcers in the iOS ecosystem. Even though Apple opened the door to retro game emulators in response to antitrust scrutiny, developers like Chaoji Li and UTM have found themselves at odds with Apple’s ever-changing guidelines.
Apple’s rejection of iDOS 3 and UTM SE sheds light on the challenges that developers face when trying to bring emulator apps to the App Store. The lack of clear guidelines and the inconsistent decision-making process by Apple leave developers feeling frustrated and powerless. As Apple continues to navigate the world of third-party app stores and antitrust scrutiny, developers will have to tread carefully when submitting emulator apps in the future.
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