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The MS-DOS emulator, iDOS 3, has returned to Apple devices after being absent from the App Store for three years.
This change comes as a result of recent updates to Apple’s App Store guidelines, which now allow PC emulator apps, giving developers more flexibility in bringing retro gaming experiences to iOS users.
iDOS was originally developed by Chaoji Li to enable users to play classic MS-DOS games and run applications on their iPhones and iPads. Initially, it was available on the App Store but was removed in 2021.
This removal happened because Apple enforced guidelines that restricted apps from executing unapproved code or providing external file-sharing capabilities. Back then, Li explained that removing essential features to comply with Apple’s policies would go against what users expected from his app.
Earlier this year, a turning point came when Apple revised its App Store guidelines, specifically section 4.7, which previously allowed only retro console emulators, not PC emulators.
In May, Apple approved the PPSSPP PlayStation Portable emulator, and two months later, the tech giant greenlit the PC emulator called UTM SE, which opened the door for PC emulators on the App Store.
Following this, the guideline was updated to include “PC emulator” apps, leading to the return of iDOS 3.
In light of the app’s approval, Chaoji Li expressed cautious optimism. In a brief blog post published on Friday, he mentioned that it had been a long wait for common sense to prevail within Apple.
Li added that while he wanted to celebrate, he still felt cautious about the future and questioned whether things would be stable moving forward.
In any case, iDOS 3 is now available for 99 cents on the App Store, allowing users to enjoy classics like Doom, SimCity 2000, and Fallout 1. The app provides a PC-style onscreen keyboard and a virtual D-pad and supports Bluetooth keyboards and controllers, enhancing the gaming experience. Like with most emulators, users must provide their own copies of the games.
In other Apple gaming news, the company approved Epic Games Store’s notarization submission for iOS devices last month after initially rejecting it twice.
