Apple’s approval of UTM SE, the first PC emulator available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, surprised the tech industry. This decision represents a significant shift from the company’s earlier stance, which used to be very restrictive regarding the software allowed on its mobile platforms.
UTM SE is an app that lets users play classic PC games on iOS devices and emulate older versions of operating systems such as Windows and macOS. UTM SE is based on QEMU, a popular emulation platform, and supports VGA graphics and terminal mode for text-only operating systems.
Performance considerations
Performance of systems emulated in UTM SE may be lower than on other platforms due to Apple’s restrictions on Just-In-Time (JIT) compilers in iOS apps. However, for emulation and retro-gaming enthusiasts, this is a major step forward.
With the approval of UTM SE, Apple appears to be re-evaluating its position on emulation and software. There is little information about this surprising approval, and many now wonder whether other types of previously restricted apps may arrive on iOS devices in the future. UTM SE is available for download on the App Store and will soon arrive on AltStore PAL in the EU.
