Apple recently began allowing old video game emulators on the App Store. However, there was a major issue when Apple removed the Game Boy emulator iGBA from the store. iGBA, which had quickly become very popular, was almost identical to another emulator that had been reviewed earlier.
Riley Testut, the creator of GBA4iOS, stated that iGBA was a copy of his own app and filled with ads and tracking software. Testut has since released Delta, which follows GBA4iOS, and it is now free on the App Store.
The first emulator gained attention ten years ago when Testut discovered a method allowing iPhone users to install the Game Boy Advance emulator without jailbreaking their phones.
Apple later shut down this workaround, and Nintendo was not pleased with the emulator. Now, Delta can be downloaded for free directly from the App Store, eliminating the need for sideloading.
The app not only plays GBA games but also supports NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, and Nintendo DS games, with more to be added later.
It works with third-party controllers and offers features like quick saving, cheat codes, and the ability to sync data across devices using Google Drive or Dropbox.
The app also has a local multiplayer feature for up to four players, which is best enjoyed on an iPad or by connecting your phone to a TV.
To use the emulator, you must provide the games yourself. To keep it legal, you should create ROM files from games you already own.
iPhone and iPad users outside the EU can directly download Delta from the App Store.
However, for those in the EU, the process varies. Testut also created AltStore, a third-party app store, which now makes it simpler for EU iPhone users to install a version of the app.
Europe’s coolest alternative app marketplace is HERE!
Introducing AltStore PAL — an Apple-approved version of AltStore exclusive to the EU
Download now from our website for just €1.50/year (+ VAT) 🇪🇺 https://t.co/3ZfYbq4QNU pic.twitter.com/D5cbkWhi7l
— AltStore.io (@altstoreio) April 17, 2024
To use Clip, users need to donate at least one Euro. Testut mentioned that he and his business partner, Shane Gill, intend to add more third-party apps to AltStore PAL once they confirm everything works well.
AltStore PAL charges users €1.50 annually. This fee includes the Core Technology Fee from Apple for each app marketplace download and costs for processing payments.
Alternatively, you can opt for the older version of AltStore, but you will need to use a computer to sideload apps and update them weekly.
What we think?
I think Delta will be very popular because it’s easy to download directly from the App Store, so you don’t need to do anything complicated to get it. It supports many old Nintendo games, which is exciting for fans.
It’s great that it also works with controllers and has features like quick saving. However, the situation in the EU sounds a bit complicated, which might frustrate some users there.
