Recently, Apple made headlines by rejecting the UTM emulator’s application for registration on the App Store. UTM, a popular PC system emulator, is now unable to be downloaded and used officially on iPhones and iPads due to Apple’s decision. This move came as a surprise after Apple had relaxed regulations, allowing classic game console emulators like Delta and Folium to be available on the App Store. However, Apple cited that PCs are not gaming consoles and rejected UTM based on rule 4.7 of the App Review Guidelines, which covers “mini apps, mini-games, online games, chatbots, plug-ins, and game emulators.”
UTM does not plan to appeal Apple’s decision. Although the UTM SE version had JIT compilation disabled to comply with App Store requirements, this significantly impacted the app’s performance. While users can still install UTM through unofficial methods such as manual compilation and installation via Xcode, it requires technical knowledge and comes with risks.
Apple’s decision has sparked controversy within the user community, with some supporting Apple’s ecosystem protection, while others criticize the limitation it imposes on user choices.