The first PC emulator to benefit from this change is UTM SE, an application that allows users to emulate old versions of Windows, macOS, and Linux on their Apple devices. UTM SE was initially rejected by Apple in June, with the company citing that “PC is not a console” and that the app violated guideline 4.7 of the App Review Guidelines, which previously only allowed retro game console emulators. However, following widespread backlash and potential scrutiny from regulatory bodies, Apple has reconsidered its decision. UTM SE is now available for free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and visionOS devices. This approval comes after the developers made some technical changes to the app, facilitated in part by the AltStore team.
To accommodate PC emulators, Apple has updated its App Store Guidelines. The revised guideline 4.7 now explicitly permits PC emulator apps to offer the option to download games, aligning with the existing rules for console emulators.
Key Features of UTM SE:
– Architecture Support: It emulates x86, PPC, and RISC-V architectures.
– Operating Modes: It supports VGA mode for graphics and terminal mode for text-only operating systems.
– Customization: Users can run pre-built machines or create their own configurations from scratch.
– Compatibility: Built from QEMU, a powerful and widely used emulator, UTM SE allows users to run classic software and games on their Apple devices.
