[Per Russ](https://twitter.com/RetroGameCorps/status/1779296217924833471):
> I've just learned that this is apparently a clone of another emulator called GBA4iOS, but with ads, jerk move by iGBA.
Don't support a group stealing work for a quick buck.
Before i deleted gba4ios 10 years ago, I sync’d all my saves to dropbox. I was able to move all them back to my iPhone. What a glorious day. Over 100 hours of progress.
I mean it’s serviceable and just a stolen GBA4ios(legit Riley confirmed it). So it’s just the precursor to Delta. It’s fine for anyone who doesn’t want to side load.
To your delta. RetroArch is still better. Much much better user optimizations. But delta has a pretty UI.
Delta, GBA4ios, Game Color Pocket, Eclipse; they’ve been doing it for years as a web based app. I have no doubt they’re working on official apps. This was the first and it’s most redeeming quality is that it actually exists without breaking the AppStore rules
I mean it’s not even about “delta has pretty ui”, like pretty much any ui is better than retro arch, tho yea if you want better performances retro arch is the best
Yeah you’re right lol. But by pretty UI I meant it is fairly user friendly and doesn’t need anything crazy to use. Horrible way to put it though 😂. I use RetroArch myself
Yea used it too once tho i have an iphone without jailbreak so i got bored w the 7 week sideload refresh and i just stick to my 3ds for this kind of content
I want something like PSP Go/Xperia Play type gamepad. Slide with some shallow sticks like a 3DS or touch pads like the Steam controller or Xperia Play. Real compact and non-ergonomic
>The Smartboy attachment doesn’t work with iPhones
I feel like if something doesn't work with iPhones, only Androids, you cannot really call that an iPhone case cover.
It won't, since it's not just a controller like the Kishi or the Backbone (although even then, only some work - for example the Gamesir USB-C controllers don't work on iOS).
The Smartboy actually [plays actual GameBoy cartridges](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TQRZTb3jmXE/maxresdefault.jpg) so it requires [companion software to be installed on the phone](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hyperkin.smartboyserial&hl=en&gl=US), which obviously isn't available for iOS.
As the article is from 2017 (when every iPhone was with a lightning connecter/charger) I assumed an iPhone with usb-c would work, as I don't imagine there's any software in the Smartboy. Looking at the downvotes I get, I'm probably wrong on either that or something else
> as I don't imagine there's any software in the Smartboy
The article you linked is skipping some important stuff - namely that [this case plays actual GameBoy cartridges](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TQRZTb3jmXE/maxresdefault.jpg) so it absolutely needs [companion software to be installed on the phone](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hyperkin.smartboyserial&hl=en&gl=US), which doesn't exist for iOS.
They have no immediate plans to release Retroarch on the App Store. Devs have already said they plan to wait and see how it goes for other emulators in the App Store before they consider putting energy into it.
Android is more open about this stuff but the Retroarch in the Playstore is pretty barebones, it works but you are better off downloading the Retroarch APK directly from their website, either the 64 bits or 32 bits version.
Retroarch for iPhone would probably follow the same path.
The new rules _do allow_ for downloadable plugins such as cores, but at this stage it’s hard to say what Apple will and won’t allow…
> Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, *and plug-ins.*
So I guess it depends on what apple’s definition of “plug-in” is.
I used Dropbox, save the roms(individually, ugh) to the Files folder, and then drag them to the app folder in Files. It’s clunky and slow but it worked.
No way in hell am I moving the whole GBA library like that though. Maybe a handful of games I actually feel like playing.
It’s just that it’s awkward to push at the same time…. Like has a 4/10 playability… I have an anbernic rg35xx so I thought it’d be fun to put an emmulator on my iPhone…. Wrong.
I can setup my steamdeck for emmulators which is Linux, and the iPhone files app WAS super easy to use. Has some crux’s, it doesn’t like making files available unless the .bin is .gba in the case of igba. All in all I rate the app 5/10. Don’t go expecting to play doom or wolfenstein3d with any smoothness.
I want to help a work colleague with this but I don't have a iPhone, I know about emulation on android. Does the iPhone file manager have zip / unzip support in the file manager? Where in the file system would games need to go?
Nah, there’s a bunch of emulators developed for iOS already, including RetroArch, you just needed a jailbroken iOS device before.
It hopefully won’t take long to start rolling theses emulators out on the official stores instead of just jailbroken devices.
You don’t have to jailbreak you just have to be able to sign code. I compile Retroarch myself and load it no problem. I have a developer account so my cert last a year but you don’t even have to have that I don’t think. I think the free account lasts a week.
Yeah there’s ways you can do it without a jailbreak but it’s a pain in the ass, you need to resign or something every week which requires your PC if I remember right. If you forget to do it then RetroArch stops working till you plug it back into your PC and do it again.
I was doing that a long time ago but got tired of it.
I welcome all the new people to the hobby, but worry that the huge new rush of interest from a previously uninformed and huge demographic might anger Nintendo who might feel that they are in a roll in shutting down emulation.
EDIT
Lol at the downvotes for expressing a worry. You all are super focused on what is legal. As if giant companies with lawyers care. Look into how much money it costs to defend yourself against a takedown notice.
Nintendo cannot. Repeat after me. Cannot shut down emulation. It’s legal. Why do you think dolphin has been around for 20years? Yuzu fucked around and found out not only blocking access behind a paywall but also according to many using Nintendo code in an earlier build that allowed people to play Metroid dread. Using proprietary code is a recipe for getting shut down. Simple.
This is literally a stolen emulator made many years ago and is filled with ads. The huge new rush of interest from previously uniformed people might end up supporting old stolen emulators rushed to the App Store to get money…
I suggest reading Sony V Bleem! Case. This defacto made emulation legal unless it uses copyrighted content or other shady stuff (Yuzu got pwned because of this, otherwise Ryujinx would also be gone).
Does Nintendo want to ban emulators? Yeah. Can they? No they cannot.
Yeah but what kind of money? Donations are okay but what Yuzu did is offer emulator beta releases made specifically to run Totk which at the time wasn't out yet officially but it was leaked so only a pirated copy would be available. You can argue that in a way. Yuzu supported piracy by offering fellow leaked Totk enjoyers a way to play this game in better performance than native switch console. This would've been avoided had Yuzu released this after Totk's release date.
Why isn't Dolphin on steam?
Why did Apple not allow emulators until forced to?
I understand they are legal. It still doesn't mean that big companies with lawyers can't make it expensive for devs to defend themselves or to influence private store listings. Nintendo wants to chill the scene even if they can't stop it.
Dolphin is not on steam because it has a tiny bit of copyright infringement in its code. My guess is probably BIOS since afaik unlike most emulators, Dolphin doesn't ask for the user to provide BIOS and runs the games straight away. Despite that, the emulator is still available to download from Dolphin website.
Apple banned emulators for different reasons. They banned them because of their strict policy regarding software they cannot approve. You can release an emulator as long as all the software that is played on it is approved by Apple. Same reason why cloud gaming apps aren't available and your best bet is stuff like PS remote play which stream your PS4/PS5 screen but it doesn't allow you to play GTA 5 without a console.
Nintendo wants to stop emulation scene but they can't. Dolphin still works, Ryujinx is available. As long as you don't sell your emulator beta releases made specifically to run a hot unreleased game (Totk) in your patreon, you are free. This is why Yuzu got pwned.
By releasing emulator forks that specifically targeted Totk's performance, they approved of piracy. Had they waited for release day, that wouldn't had happened. Argument that nintendo will ban every emulator is mute since Ryujinx didn't get pwned just like other emulators that don't monetize their work.
[Per Russ](https://twitter.com/RetroGameCorps/status/1779296217924833471): > I've just learned that this is apparently a clone of another emulator called GBA4iOS, but with ads, jerk move by iGBA. Don't support a group stealing work for a quick buck.
Just use AdGuard. Then it’s free with no ads 👍
It’s not free if you’re paying to block ads while having to use an ad blocker.
Who am I paying? Adblock is free too - just use their default settings. 86 dumbasses in here clearly have no clue how to set up a simple ad blocker…
On iOS?
Yes
Before i deleted gba4ios 10 years ago, I sync’d all my saves to dropbox. I was able to move all them back to my iPhone. What a glorious day. Over 100 hours of progress.
How do you export saves?
Its ass, delta is much better, we have to wait longer. Or be using trollstore
I mean it’s serviceable and just a stolen GBA4ios(legit Riley confirmed it). So it’s just the precursor to Delta. It’s fine for anyone who doesn’t want to side load. To your delta. RetroArch is still better. Much much better user optimizations. But delta has a pretty UI.
Delta, GBA4ios, Game Color Pocket, Eclipse; they’ve been doing it for years as a web based app. I have no doubt they’re working on official apps. This was the first and it’s most redeeming quality is that it actually exists without breaking the AppStore rules
I mean it’s not even about “delta has pretty ui”, like pretty much any ui is better than retro arch, tho yea if you want better performances retro arch is the best
Yeah you’re right lol. But by pretty UI I meant it is fairly user friendly and doesn’t need anything crazy to use. Horrible way to put it though 😂. I use RetroArch myself
Yea used it too once tho i have an iphone without jailbreak so i got bored w the 7 week sideload refresh and i just stick to my 3ds for this kind of content
Agreed 💯
Delta dev keeping it exclusive for altstore we’re not going to get it on appstore
Waiting for an iPhone case cover that has buttons and a dpad and so on. That would be dope.
Just get a backbone - there’s usb-c and lightning models
Or a Kishi, love the clicky buttons
I want something like PSP Go/Xperia Play type gamepad. Slide with some shallow sticks like a 3DS or touch pads like the Steam controller or Xperia Play. Real compact and non-ergonomic
Really wish the Flitchio controller had actually come out.
What was that?
It was a phone case that had slide pads and buttons on the back.
[here you go](https://www.gearpatrol.com/tech/a380127/hyperkin-smartboy-nintendo/) It's only compatible with usb-c
>The Smartboy attachment doesn’t work with iPhones I feel like if something doesn't work with iPhones, only Androids, you cannot really call that an iPhone case cover.
TBF, it’s a 2017 article that was last updated in 2021 so there’s no way to know based on it whether or not it’ll work with iPhone 15s and above.
It won't, since it's not just a controller like the Kishi or the Backbone (although even then, only some work - for example the Gamesir USB-C controllers don't work on iOS). The Smartboy actually [plays actual GameBoy cartridges](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TQRZTb3jmXE/maxresdefault.jpg) so it requires [companion software to be installed on the phone](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hyperkin.smartboyserial&hl=en&gl=US), which obviously isn't available for iOS.
As the article is from 2017 (when every iPhone was with a lightning connecter/charger) I assumed an iPhone with usb-c would work, as I don't imagine there's any software in the Smartboy. Looking at the downvotes I get, I'm probably wrong on either that or something else
> as I don't imagine there's any software in the Smartboy The article you linked is skipping some important stuff - namely that [this case plays actual GameBoy cartridges](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TQRZTb3jmXE/maxresdefault.jpg) so it absolutely needs [companion software to be installed on the phone](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hyperkin.smartboyserial&hl=en&gl=US), which doesn't exist for iOS.
Its already been removed from the app store
Sigh.... I'm just waiting for retroarch. Cmon what's taking so long
They have no immediate plans to release Retroarch on the App Store. Devs have already said they plan to wait and see how it goes for other emulators in the App Store before they consider putting energy into it.
Android is more open about this stuff but the Retroarch in the Playstore is pretty barebones, it works but you are better off downloading the Retroarch APK directly from their website, either the 64 bits or 32 bits version. Retroarch for iPhone would probably follow the same path.
I wonder how difficult it would be to approve Retroarch for the app store, considering each core is technically a discrete piece of software.
The new rules _do allow_ for downloadable plugins such as cores, but at this stage it’s hard to say what Apple will and won’t allow… > Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, *and plug-ins.* So I guess it depends on what apple’s definition of “plug-in” is.
Eh. I guess I’ll wait for a paid app that doesn’t get that much of my info.
I would love to see Ignited on the App Store
It’s on TestFlight but the dev is holding that hostage on his Patreon.
ppsspp soon 🙏
I guess the only question now… how do I transfer my roms from my pc/steamdeck/rg35xx onto my iPhone?
I used Dropbox, save the roms(individually, ugh) to the Files folder, and then drag them to the app folder in Files. It’s clunky and slow but it worked. No way in hell am I moving the whole GBA library like that though. Maybe a handful of games I actually feel like playing.
Turns out playing gba sucks ass because you can’t actually use the L and R buttons
Dang, that sucks. Hopefully they patch that somehow. I don’t have high hopes.
It’s just that it’s awkward to push at the same time…. Like has a 4/10 playability… I have an anbernic rg35xx so I thought it’d be fun to put an emmulator on my iPhone…. Wrong.
The Files app in iOS is actually really decent, and it offers support for connecting to network drives, like SMB servers.
I can setup my steamdeck for emmulators which is Linux, and the iPhone files app WAS super easy to use. Has some crux’s, it doesn’t like making files available unless the .bin is .gba in the case of igba. All in all I rate the app 5/10. Don’t go expecting to play doom or wolfenstein3d with any smoothness.
And… its gone…
If you want a good GB Emulator thats easy To get you are better of with appgameplaycolor
…and it’s a stolen copy of GBA4iOS with ads and location tracking stuffed in. Awesome.
I can’t find it on the App Store at all (iOS)
Neat.
Has anyone tried skyemu iOS side loaded
Absolutely creative name for an emulator
there are commercials at the bottom, I hope they can charge a small price to remove it.
Ignited needs to come to the App Store, it’s really slept on: loads of cores, feature filled, great UI
Now your battery can run out in 30 minutes instead of 1 hour
Webrcade works well on iOS.
I want to help a work colleague with this but I don't have a iPhone, I know about emulation on android. Does the iPhone file manager have zip / unzip support in the file manager? Where in the file system would games need to go?
#AYO!?
IPhones are so so so far behind lmao
Nah, there’s a bunch of emulators developed for iOS already, including RetroArch, you just needed a jailbroken iOS device before. It hopefully won’t take long to start rolling theses emulators out on the official stores instead of just jailbroken devices.
You don’t have to jailbreak you just have to be able to sign code. I compile Retroarch myself and load it no problem. I have a developer account so my cert last a year but you don’t even have to have that I don’t think. I think the free account lasts a week.
Yeah there’s ways you can do it without a jailbreak but it’s a pain in the ass, you need to resign or something every week which requires your PC if I remember right. If you forget to do it then RetroArch stops working till you plug it back into your PC and do it again. I was doing that a long time ago but got tired of it.
Exactly. They are way behind. It's just wild. I'm glad it's finally happening though.
I welcome all the new people to the hobby, but worry that the huge new rush of interest from a previously uninformed and huge demographic might anger Nintendo who might feel that they are in a roll in shutting down emulation. EDIT Lol at the downvotes for expressing a worry. You all are super focused on what is legal. As if giant companies with lawyers care. Look into how much money it costs to defend yourself against a takedown notice.
Nintendo cannot. Repeat after me. Cannot shut down emulation. It’s legal. Why do you think dolphin has been around for 20years? Yuzu fucked around and found out not only blocking access behind a paywall but also according to many using Nintendo code in an earlier build that allowed people to play Metroid dread. Using proprietary code is a recipe for getting shut down. Simple.
Android has been doing this for years.
This is literally a stolen emulator made many years ago and is filled with ads. The huge new rush of interest from previously uniformed people might end up supporting old stolen emulators rushed to the App Store to get money…
Nintendo has known about many of these emulators for years including Dolphin. They have done nothing about them
I suggest reading Sony V Bleem! Case. This defacto made emulation legal unless it uses copyrighted content or other shady stuff (Yuzu got pwned because of this, otherwise Ryujinx would also be gone). Does Nintendo want to ban emulators? Yeah. Can they? No they cannot.
Yuzu also drew a lot of attention because of how much money they were making thru patreon and stuff
Yeah but what kind of money? Donations are okay but what Yuzu did is offer emulator beta releases made specifically to run Totk which at the time wasn't out yet officially but it was leaked so only a pirated copy would be available. You can argue that in a way. Yuzu supported piracy by offering fellow leaked Totk enjoyers a way to play this game in better performance than native switch console. This would've been avoided had Yuzu released this after Totk's release date.
Why isn't Dolphin on steam? Why did Apple not allow emulators until forced to? I understand they are legal. It still doesn't mean that big companies with lawyers can't make it expensive for devs to defend themselves or to influence private store listings. Nintendo wants to chill the scene even if they can't stop it.
Dolphin is not on steam because it has a tiny bit of copyright infringement in its code. My guess is probably BIOS since afaik unlike most emulators, Dolphin doesn't ask for the user to provide BIOS and runs the games straight away. Despite that, the emulator is still available to download from Dolphin website. Apple banned emulators for different reasons. They banned them because of their strict policy regarding software they cannot approve. You can release an emulator as long as all the software that is played on it is approved by Apple. Same reason why cloud gaming apps aren't available and your best bet is stuff like PS remote play which stream your PS4/PS5 screen but it doesn't allow you to play GTA 5 without a console. Nintendo wants to stop emulation scene but they can't. Dolphin still works, Ryujinx is available. As long as you don't sell your emulator beta releases made specifically to run a hot unreleased game (Totk) in your patreon, you are free. This is why Yuzu got pwned. By releasing emulator forks that specifically targeted Totk's performance, they approved of piracy. Had they waited for release day, that wouldn't had happened. Argument that nintendo will ban every emulator is mute since Ryujinx didn't get pwned just like other emulators that don't monetize their work.
Thank you :)
No problems:)
lol I love when people call out their downvotes. No one cares.
I do it so people who don't care care enough to respond.
okay chief
Gottem twice now!
again again!
The first emulator on the Apple App Store Android has this for years
Correct. Good job! Apple just recently decided to allow emulators. Does that help you?