Emulators have long been a retro gamer’s best friend. These iconic pieces of software enable players to access and run classic games that are no longer easily available in their original format. While emulators are most commonly associated with console games of the 16 and 32 bit eras, there are even tools out there capable of running games from the original Xbox and the PlayStation 2.
Such programs are relatively commonplace on the PC, and while Android has always been more amenable to permitting their use, Apple’s iOS operating system which powers the iPhone has historically been quite hostile to them.
That’s not to say that people couldn’t side-load apps on their jailbroken devices, but recently the necessity for that has fallen by the wayside. This is because Apple has had to bow to a new EU law designed to prohibit first party providers from monopolizing their app store ecosystems. In practice, what this amounts to is that Apple has been forced to permit people to install and access app stores other than their homegrown and best known example.
That’s a big deal, as Apple take’s a sizable cut of all sales made through its official channels. This has opened the door for novel alternative app stores to gain ground, and many are making a name for themselves by offering the kind of apps historically underrepresented on the official directory. Among these, is, you guess it – game emulators.
So what does this mean for the state of gaming on the iPhone today? On face value it appears to be a big win for gamers who want nothing more than to play classic Final Fantasy titles or even Goldeneye 64 on their devices, but this shift has broader implications that could end up having a huge impact on the way gaming on the world’s most popular mobile operating system continues to develop,
Opens the Door To Underrepresented Game Types
The App Store is home to hundreds of thousands of unique games – more, you may suppose, than anyone would ever need. But there’s some caveats. That’s because Apple gets to decide what sort of games can go on its App Store, and that means that certain genres get the short stick.
One of the most obvious examples of this is when one looks to the world of iGaming, and particularly online casinos. While there are certainly some iGaming apps available on the App store, the iGaming sector has concentrated its efforts to date on furnishing gamers with top tier experiences through mobile-optimized browser based services.
That’s due to a number of important reasons ranging from regional licensing, to a desire to retain creative control. But one factor is certainly that it’s easier for online casinos to operate outside of the confines of the App store. Existing iPhone casino aficionados are abundantly aware of the broad selection of titles on offer when they fire up their Safari browser. Available to this sector are a growing number of dedicated platforms like Vegasslotsonline UK that not only offer thousands of unique games themselves, but furnish patrons with competitive welcome bonuses and an array of compelling sign-up offers to affiliated casinos. As a result, casino gaming on iOS is already well established and hugely cost effective.
This recent shift in iOS policy could, however, open the door to viable casino-focused app stores taking root, smoothing the process of accessing games and providing players with a sleek on-device experience.
Will Further Establish Mobile as a Leading Gaming Platform
A lot has changed since the early days of smartphone gaming. While the hyper-casual hits of yesteryear are still going strong, both Android and iOS have increasingly become the home of high quality gameplay experiences. This is evidenced by the rise of mobile esports on the platform, the propagation of cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the growing proliferation of gaming focused devices and peripherals coming to the mobile market.
Having quality emulators available on top of all this will simply serve to make the case for mobile as an increasingly valid gaming platform in 2024. Already, in many parts of the world, smartphones are the most popular gaming device. This is thanks to their variety of games, affordability of hardware and widespread proliferation. Many analysts now suggest it won’t be long before this becomes the global norm.
