The first PC gaming emulator has officially arrived on iOS, allowing classic games to be played on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro devices. UTM SE, developed by Turing Software, has made its debut in the App Store, bypassing Apple's Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation restrictions.
A Breakthrough in Emulation
Historically, the App Store has seen a surge of emulators following Apple’s policy changes in April. However, PC-based emulators were notably absent, with options limited to game engine-specific emulators like ScummVM. UTM SE breaks this trend, offering a "retro PC emulator" designed for running vintage software and games.
Features and Compatibility
UTM SE does not come with Windows pre-installed but allows users to run pre-built machines emulating various operating systems, including:
- Windows XP
- Mac OS 9.2.1
- FreeDos
- Debian 11
- ArchLinux
The emulator supports both VGA mode for graphical output and a terminal-based version for text-only software. It can emulate x86, PPC, and RISC-V architectures.
Overcoming JIT Restrictions
Apple's policies prohibit the use of JIT compilation, which compiles code during program execution rather than beforehand, due to security concerns. This restriction has historically impeded the development of certain emulators, like DolphiniOS, which require JIT to translate PowerPC code for ARM-based iOS devices.
UTM SE initially faced rejection by Apple's App Store Review team in June due to these restrictions. However, thanks to an implementation of the QEMU TCTI emulator by another developer, UTM SE was able to circumvent the need for JIT, creating a compliant and functional build. This innovation may pave the way for other developers to follow suit.
Availability
UTM SE is available for free download from the App Store, with a file size of 1.7 gigabytes. It requires iOS 14, iPadOS 14, or visionOS 1.0 or later to run.
A New Era for Emulators
The successful release of UTM SE marks a significant milestone in the emulation community. By navigating Apple's stringent policies, Turing Software has opened the door for other developers to bring similar projects to iOS, potentially enriching the emulator ecosystem on Apple devices.
