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In an unexpected policy reversal, Apple has approved UTM SE, the first PC emulator for iPhone and iPad devices.
UTM SE enables users to emulate old versions of Windows, macOS, and other operating systems on their mobile devices, marking a notable shift in Apple’s App Store guidelines.
We are happy to announce that UTM SE is available (for free) on iOS and visionOS App Store (and coming soon to AltStore PAL)!
Shoutouts to AltStore team for their help and to Apple for reconsidering their policy.https://t.co/HAV5JnT5GO
— UTM (@UTMapp) July 13, 2024
This change follows Apple’s April revision of its App Store Guidelines, which allowed game emulators globally, including in the European Union. This policy shift led to the launch of a few game emulators, such as the popular Nintendo emulator Delta, as well as the takedown of others.
Despite the more permissive policy, UTM SE was rejected in June because it did not fit the “retro game console” category, sparking backlash and potential action from the European Commission.
However, the developers of UTM SE announced on social media on Saturday that Apple has reversed its decision, allowing the emulator on the App Store and soon on the AltStore PAL in the EU. Apple has not publicly explained this change of heart.
From a technical standpoint, UTM SE offers several features, including support for VGA graphics and terminal mode for text-only operating systems. It also emulates x86, PPC, and RISC-V architectures.
Users can run pre-built virtual machines or create their configurations. Built on QEMU, a widely used emulator, UTM SE does not include any operating systems. Instead, it links to guides for emulating various Windows, macOS, and Linux versions.
One limitation of UTM SE is that iOS apps cannot use a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler, affecting the performance of emulated systems compared to other platforms.
Nevertheless, the availability of UTM SE represents a significant milestone in Apple’s evolving approach to app distribution and user choice, especially given regulatory pressures to reduce gatekeeping.
In other iOS emulation news, the PPSSPP PlayStation Portable emulator has also recently landed on iPhone and other Apple devices.
