Delta, the popular retro game emulator for iPhone and iPad, just got its biggest update yet. Delta 2.0 rolled out on Thursday, October 22, adding Sega Genesis games, RetroAchievements, a redesigned interface and support for Apple's foldable iPhone Duo.
"2 years and 20 million downloads later… Delta 2.0 is finally here," the Delta team posted when the update went live on the App Store and AltStore PAL.
iPhone Duo becomes a DS
The iPhone Duo support is the standout. Developer Riley Testut told The Verge that Delta 2.0 optimizes controller skins for "every pose in both portrait and landscape." According to the release notes:
- Controller layouts adapt to how the Duo is folded or held.
- Delta supports Split View, so you can run other apps alongside your game.
- Folding the Duo puts Nintendo DS games to sleep, just like closing the lid on a real DS.
Sega Genesis joins the lineup
Delta now plays Sega Genesis games, joining the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. The Genesis comes with new controller skins for iPhone and iPad, including landscape layouts, plus support for Action Replay and Game Genie cheat codes. "Delta does what Nintendon't!" the release notes say.
RetroAchievements and a Liquid Glass redesign
You can now sign in with a RetroAchievements account to earn achievements in supported games and see your progress when you launch a game. A Hardcore mode turns off save-state loading and cheats.
The interface has been rebuilt around Apple's Liquid Glass design language, with a new game selection screen, a new app icon, and Recently Played and Favorites sections in the library. Other changes include:
- Animated controller skins, including support for third-party designs.
- Per-game fast-forward speeds, set by long-pressing the option in the pause menu.
- New audio controls that let music or podcasts keep playing while you game.
- An option to reposition the game screen when a controller is connected.
- Better iPad multitasking and bulk deletion of save states.
Pokémon DLC and real cartridges
Delta 2.0 also adds a DLC feature with custom in-game content for classic Pokémon games on the Game Boy Advance, such as event items and rare Pokémon. Testut told The Verge it will support all mainline GBA Pokémon games and was developed by the Pokémon ROM hacking community without the use of AI tools. Digital Trends reports that the first limited content is for Pokémon Emerald.
There are experimental features, too. Custom Filters add visual overlays like a CRT effect, and support for Epilogue's GB Operator and SN Operator accessories lets you plug in physical cartridges and play them through Delta on an iPhone or iPad, including reading and writing save files.
Now on the EU App Store
According to The Verge, this release is the first time Delta is available on the EU App Store, making it available on Apple's store worldwide alongside AltStore PAL in supported regions. The update also adds in-app purchases globally through a new "Become a Patron" option, and fixes bugs including crackling SNES audio and NES games sometimes opening to a black screen.
