Apple recently updated its app review guidelines to allow PC emulators to be added to its app store for the iPhone and iPad.

Only recently has Apple begun allowing emulators to be listed in the App Store. The company was initially hesitant to add the option, but Delta's growth has made it clear that there is considerable interest in the app, so much so that Delta is releasing it on the iPad.

However, while Apple was happy to allow retro game consoles to appear in its store, it did not allow PC emulators as they did not qualify under current guidelines. [Apple Insider discovered that the language on Apple's developer website was updated on August 1. The update focused on section 4.7 of the app review guidelines, which was changed to state that "Retro game console and PC emulator apps may offer game downloads."

Apple originally avoided putting emulators in its store, in part because of how emulators work. The question is where users will find the files for the emulators. For reference, an emulator is software that replicates how hardware works and can use read-only memory (ROM) to play games. The problem is that ROMs are illegally copied for most games. Therefore, emulator programs rely on downloads from specific sites to work, and do not provide the ROMs themselves.

This means that these files must be found from the site, downloaded, and installed on the device, which Apple vehemently opposes. Ultimately, Apple's biggest problem with side-loaded apps and third-party stores is its inability to control quality and security as it normally does. This is also why it took so long for Apple to allow RCS messaging.

Opening up the App store to PC emulators is great, but users still need to know the risks when downloading and installing ROMs on their phones. There are a few trusted sites, but it's worth checking out our guide to see if your phone is infected with a virus and what you can do to be safe.