NES emulator Bimmy removed from Apple App Store: Here's why
The new NES emulator, Bimmy, made a fleeting appearance on the Apple App Store before being taken down. This incident occurred merely two days post the removal of the iGBA emulator from the same platform. Initially advertised as a homebrew games platform, Bimmy also supported player-provided ROMs. However, users attempting to download Bimmy were met with an error message, stating the app's unavailability.
Developer withdraws Bimmy from App Store
Currently, any attempt to access Bimmy via a link results in a message stating, "This app is currently not available in your country or region." In an unexpected turn of events, it was revealed that the developer themselves removed the app. They admitted on MacRumors' forums that they voluntarily withdrew the app due to increasing apprehension, despite no external pressure to do so.
Bimmy's promise and developer's assurance
Despite its short-lived presence, Bimmy showed more potential than its predecessor iGBA, which faced criticism for excessive ads and data collection issues. The developer of Bimmy shared a GitHub link to the app's open-source code on MacRumors forum. They reassured users that unlike iGBA, Bimmy does not contain any ads or tracking features, ensuring a user-friendly experience.
Nintendo's aggressive stance impacts emulator developers
The developer's apprehension is understandable considering Nintendo's recent aggressive actions against emulators. The Yuzu app team surrendered after being sued by Nintendo, and the Dolphin Emulator team stopped their efforts to reintroduce their emulator on Steam, following a vague legal warning from Nintendo. GitLab also removed the Suyu fork of Yuzu in response to an email from Nintendo, making emulator developers increasingly cautious.