Retro Gaming Emulators Are Topping iOS and Apple TV Charts, Including One For PSP

The iOS App Store emulation explosion continues, with PSP and multi-system emulators like RetroArch topping the charts.

Apple has recently updated its App Store guidelines, opening the doors for retro-gaming emulators to be downloaded on iOS. As a result, there has been a surge of these apps available on the storefront. Now, the PSP emulator PPSSPP and the multi-system RetroArch are dominating the sales charts with their exceptional performance.

RetroArch is widely recognized as a leading player in the realm of emulation. It serves as a comprehensive interface for numerous emulator “cores” that boast extensive compatibility with a diverse range of consoles, spanning from the Atari and beyond. However, PPSSPP has gained significant attention on the App Store, currently ranking at #3 on the most-downloaded free app charts. RetroArch is currently ranked at #16.

For years, iOS users have had access to various emulators, including Delta, through unofficial methods. These methods involve using workarounds and “sideloaded” apps from alternatives like the AltStore. It’s important to mention that Apple’s guidelines still prohibit developers from offering (pirated) versions of the games that these emulators are intended for, and the future of emulators on the App Store is still uncertain.

Apple modified its regulations in response to the EU’s recent Digital Markets Act, which explicitly bans the long-standing “walled garden” approach that the tech giant has employed in the App Store. Although the rules were initially driven by this EU-only law, they have a global reach and apply to developers around the world.