Replaying the first Mario or Pokémon on your iPhone on the subway before going to work is possible. For the past week, it has never been easier to install emulators on Apple devices. These programs imitate the operation of game consoles and thus allow you to play a whole range of retro games.
If emulation has been easily accessible for a long time on Android and on computer, it was discreet on iOS. In Europe, the Digital Market Act now forces the Apple brand to authorize application stores other than the AppStore on its devices. These alternative stores notably offer emulators.
Gray area of the law
In response, the American AppStore also opened its doors wider and Delta, a program which allows you to emulate many Nintendo consoles, took advantage of this. The latter quickly found itself first in downloads, reports Numerama. On Twitter and TikTok, many users have shared their enthusiasm for nostalgically rediscovering games from their childhood.
Be careful though if you are tempted by a little game of Donkey Kong on the phone. Emulation exists in a dark gray area of the law. Programs are legal, but downloading games (in ROM form) is illegal.
Rights holders can be relatively tolerant of retro gaming, but, conversely, Nintendo recently closed Yuzu, a Switch emulator on PC. So, emulation, to be consumed in moderation.