As spotted by 9to5Mac, AltStore has just dropped a major update that includes a new app called StikDebug, which finally enables on-device JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation for sideloaded apps.
That means you can now run high-performance emulators, including those for the Nintendo Switch, right from your iPhone, and Apple can’t do much about it. At least, not in the EU.
Wait, Wasn’t AltStore PAL Already a Thing?
Yep, exactly. AltStore PAL, the version of AltStore built specifically for the EU under Apple’s new sideloading rules, launched back when Apple opened the gates earlier this year due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It’s already been letting users in the EU install apps like Delta (for retro console emulation) and UTM SE (a virtual machine app) — all without needing a developer account or sketchy workarounds.
What’s new now is that AltStore Classic — the version of AltStore that’s distributed outside the EU — just got an update too and now available to download through the PAL store. As 9to5Mac points out, this version of the store:
Doesn’t expire, doesn’t require a developer account, and doesn’t require you to manage AltServer on a separate PC or Mac for installation. AltServer will still be required to manage non-notarized apps once AltStore Classic is installed.
What is StikDebug?
StikDebug is a clever little utility app that makes JIT compilation possible on iOS without needing a separate computer or sketchy entitlements. With it, emulators and other performance-heavy apps can now run dynamically compiled code right on the device. This is something that Apple has historically blocked due to “security concerns.”
In a separate post on Threads, Riley Testut tells us:
With today’s AltStore releases, it’s now possible to emulate Switch games at full speed on iPhone and iPad with the meloNX emulator and on-device JIT compilation!
This is huge for the emulation community. iPhones are powerful enough to handle these workloads, but until now, there was no easy or stable way to make it happen without jailbreaking.
But What About the Rest of Us?
Right now, AltStore PAL (EU-only) continues to be the easiest and most “official” way to sideload apps under Apple’s new DMA rules — just pay the €1.50/year Core Technology Fee, and you’re good to go.
If you’re outside the EU, AltStore Classic still works, but you’ll need to sideload it manually using a Mac or PC with tools like AltServer. The good news is that StikDebug works with both, so the new JIT capabilities are not locked to Europe.
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