iPhones Can Now Seamlessly Play Nintendo Switch Games

AltStore Classic has officially launched, allowing users to install powerful emulators — including those for Nintendo Switch and Wii — directly on their iPhones without needing a Mac or PC.

This comes as part of ongoing changes triggered by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which forced Apple to open up iOS to third-party app stores.

AltStore Classic

Previously, iPhone users needed a desktop connection to sideload emulators. But AltStore Classic removes that barrier, offering a true on-device installation for non-notarized and JIT-based apps. Now, iPhone users can easily download emulators like Dolphin (for GameCube and Wii) and meloNX (for Nintendo Switch) — making mobile console gaming more accessible than ever.

AltStore Classic is essentially a more powerful version of the AltStore PAL, which has been active since 2019. The “Classic” version celebrates the store’s first anniversary with enhanced support for emulation and non-notarized apps via JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation.

No Mac? No Problem

One of the most notable upgrades is that AltStore Classic no longer requires users to run AltServer on a Mac or PC to sideload apps. This change greatly simplifies the process of installing unofficial emulators and other niche tools directly on iPhones, at least within the EU.

Additionally, the AltStore team has introduced a companion tool called StikDebug, which streamlines on-device JIT compilation and gives even more freedom to developers and gamers looking to explore emulator capabilities on iOS.

Read more: Apple airlifted iPhones worth a record $2 billion from India

Not for All Gamers Yet

Unfortunately, this emulator revolution is currently restricted to EU users only, thanks to regional legal changes. But if the momentum continues, users in other parts of the world could soon see similar freedom.