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Apple might finally allow retro video game emulators on the App Store, but this month, the company rejected submissions of iDOS 3, a new version of the popular DOS emulator, and UTM SE, an app that lets you emulate operating systems like Windows on iOS. In both instances, Apple said the new releases violate guideline 4.7 of the App Review Guidelines<\/a>, which is the one that allows for retro game emulators<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chaoji Li, the developer of iDOS 3, shared some of Apple\u2019s reasoning for the rejection with The Verge<\/em>. \u201cThe app provides emulator functionality but is not emulating a retro game console specifically,\u201d according to Apple\u2019s notice. \u201cOnly emulators of retro game consoles are appropriate per guideline 4.7.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhen I asked what changes I should make to be compliant, they had no idea, nor when I asked what a retro game console is,\u201d Li said in a blog post<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s still the same old unreasonable answer along the line of \u2018we know it when we see it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n UTM posted about its rejection on X. \u201cThe App Store Review Board determined that \u2018PC is not a console\u2019 regardless of the fact that there are retro Windows \/ DOS games for the PC that UTM SE can be useful in running,\u201d according to the post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n UTM also noted that Apple is barring UTM SE from being notarized for third-party app stores<\/a> because the app apparently violated guideline 2.5.2<\/a>. That rule states that apps have to be self-contained and can\u2019t execute code \u201cwhich introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Apple typically hasn\u2019t allowed just-in-time (JIT) compilation<\/a>. However, and somewhat confusingly, UTM said that UTM SE doesn\u2019t include just-in-time compilation. Additionally, Apple clarified that guideline 4.7, which allows apps to offer \u201ccertain software that is not embedded in the binary,\u201d is \u201can exception that only applies to App Store apps\u201d but isn\u2019t one that UTM SE qualifies for, UTM said in a follow-up post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Apple didn\u2019t reply to a request for comment. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Unfortunately, as we\u2019ve seen in other App Store spats<\/a>, the developers are at the mercy of Apple\u2019s fickle decision-making. \u201cIn short, as the sole rule maker and enforcer in [the] iOS ecosystem, they don\u2019t need to be consistent at all,\u201d Li said in an email. And UTM said it isn\u2019t going to push further for UTM SE to be on the App Store because it thinks the app \u201cis a subpar experience and isn\u2019t worth fighting for.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Apple likely opened the door to retro game emulators in April in response to antitrust scrutiny<\/a>, while it launched support for third-party app stores in the EU in March so it can comply<\/a> with the Digital Markets Act.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n