Emulation arrived on the App Store two years ago – 60m downloads later, what’s changed?
Two years after Apple’s historic policy change allowing emulators on the App Store, the category has achieved remarkable growth with approximately 60 million combined downloads across iPhone and iPad platforms. Delta, the leading emulator developed by AltStore creator Riley Testut, has generated over 26 million downloads since its April 2024 launch, establishing itself as a dominant player in the space. Other significant competitors include PPSSPP with over 6 million downloads, while Manic Emu, RetroArch, and Gamma have each surpassed 2 million downloads.
Despite this substantial commercial success, developers working in the emulation space report receiving minimal support from Apple, reflecting the company’s cautious approach to emulation despite its growing mainstream acceptance. The ecosystem represents a significant shift in mobile gaming, enabling players to engage with game preservation and experience classic titles from legacy systems like the PSP and earlier consoles.
This growth underscores strong consumer demand for nostalgic gaming experiences on modern mobile devices. However, the relationship between emulator developers and major platform holders remains complex and uncertain, with ongoing concerns about long-term viability and potential legal challenges from copyright holders.