GBA4iOS, the popular Game Boy emulator for iOS, has been removed by its creator Riley Testut on GitHub after Nintendo filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown request, reports The Next Web. First sharing the news through his Twitter, Testut stated that the emulator will continue to function normally on iOS devices, as in-app ROM downloads will be "temporarily suspended."
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GBA4iOS saw its last major update in February, which added iPad support, controller skins, iOS 7 controller support, Dropbox integration, and an in-app web browser that could used to download Game Boy games from any ROM website. The emulator was also notable for bypassing Apple's App Store restrictions as it could be installed directly on an iOS device by visiting the project's official website and tapping a download link.
Traditionally, Apple has taken a strict stance on emulators in the App Store, which has caused apps like GBA4iOS to seek alternative methods for user downloads. For instance, open emulators such as iMAME and iDOS have made their way onto the App Store only to be pulled a short time later likely because of potential legal issues.
Despite the removal of GBA4iOS, the 'NDS4iOS' Nintendo DS emulator for iOS devices released last month remains available on its respective web page. However, it is unknown if Nintendo will file a similar takedown notice in efforts to prevent potential piracy.
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Top Rated Comments
+1. If Apple were to do this, the praise would be so high that angels in heaven would sing songs of copyright and litigation.
I never cared for GBA anyway. Someone please release a good NES, SNES, and MAME emulator using this alternative app distribution method. Please!
How is that ridiculous? It's their ips. They have the right to them.
Considering how Apple protects its IP like a rabid doberman, it does seem a bit ironic to complain about Nintendo's actions on this site.
As a fan of iOS devices and many Nintendo games though, it's a pity there couldn't be a legal solution to this.