Delta is one of the most developed and thoughtfully curated emulators available on mobile platforms. Delta is only currently available on Apple devices, unlike the various emulators found on Android-based handhelds like the RG406H or Retroid Pocket 5.
We got a chance to interview Riley, the sole developer of Delta, to ask him questions about the design and thought process behind the app, how his past brought him to this point, the journey therein, and what his plans are for the future.
An Interview with Riley Testut
What’s your favorite retro game/console?
My favorite console is probably split between DS and Wii. I fondly remember playing Mario Kart DS with my friends in elementary school, as well as trading and battling Pokémon (of course). I also loved how unique both consoles were at the time, which is why I worked *really* hard on getting DS perfect for Delta — including microphone support and (soon) online multiplayer. I just wanted to recreate that experience as best as possible.
What are your views on the preservation of classic games through emulation?
People need modern ways to play their old games, and far too many have effectively been lost to time due to indifference towards preservation. Emulation is a great, simple way to preserve these experiences for later generations, and I’m glad it’s becoming more and more accepted as a legitimate means to do so, rather than being regarded as a means for piracy. And now that emulators are allowed in the App Store, it’s great to see this discussion happening more often.
How do you see AltStore evolving in the future, especially in relation to gaming apps?
I hope AltStore can become the home of the more experimental and “fun” apps from indie developers, including not just games but also more niché things you can’t find in the App Store like clipboard managers. I strongly believe today’s mobile landscape has stagnated and resulted in “boring” apps, so we’re hoping AltStore’s more relaxed approach can encourage innovation for the first time in years.
What are your thoughts on Apple’s decision to allow emulators on the App Store?
It’s clearly a long overdue decision, but still the right one — and I’m sure it was a total coincidence it happened right before we launched AltStore PAL 🙂 Not only has it given emulator developers a chance to share their work with a wider audience, but we’ve also seen a huge surge in interest around emulation in general — as evidenced by Delta becoming the #1 app in the App Store. And speaking personally, this has literally been my dream for the past decade, so I couldn’t be happier to finally have Delta available for anyone to download.
Do you see a scenario in which Apple allows for AltStore to be available in the U.S.?
Yes, but only if they’re forced to. We’ve seen that Apple will fight tooth and nail to prevent alternative app stores, so the only way that Apple would allow AltStore in the U.S. (or anywhere else) would be via government intervention — whether it’s through the ongoing DOJ case or a future law. However, momentum is picking up around the world with UK and Japan both passing their own laws similar to Europe’s DMA, so I believe this is inevitable.
In 2020, Epic Games filed complaints against Apple to the Competition Appeal Tribunal over how they handled the App Store and its “walled garden.” After review and consideration, the European Commission informed Apple that they were in violation of the Digital markets Act. Because of that, Apple was then forced to allow third party stores onto their platform. Third party stores were introduced in iOS 17.4.
What advice would you give to aspiring mobile game developers looking to distribute their apps outside the official App Store?
If you’ve ever experienced trouble dealing with App Review, this is your opportunity to try something new without worrying about rejection! We’re here to give developers the opportunity to explore their craziest ideas and see what works.
What are some of the most exciting trends or technologies you see emerging in mobile gaming?
Somewhat niche, but I really love the rise in popularity of iPhone controllers this past year in response to emulators launching on the App Store. My personal favorite I’ve seen so far is the GAMEBABY, but I also have a GameSir G8 for my iPad mini which makes for an excellent emulation device!
Can you share any details about upcoming projects or features for AltStore or Delta? Delta for Android when?
Haha well, I can tell you now that waiting for Delta to come to Android is a losing battle because I’m an iOS dev at heart, and I wouldn’t be able to put the same thought and care into an Android version. But generally, we’re really excited to be working on online multiplayer for Delta! We just released the first beta on our Patreon, and we’re working hard to make it available for everyone soon.
As for Wii, one of my absolute favorite games of all time (besides Pokémon) is Super Mario Galaxy, so I am hopeful Apple allows emulators to use JIT soon so I can replay that on my iPad!
How have you managed to stay motivated over the years, despite fighting what seemed to be an uphill battle?
Good question – I feel like a lot of that has come from having a very encouraging community, and also blind hope that someday this could happen. However, by far the most motivating change was when I decided to bring my best friend Shane on board full-time as my business partner. Having someone else with me to deal with all the ups and downs of a startup has been tremendously helpful, and I don’t think I could have sustained this for so long without him.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your work in iOS development and app distribution?
By far, seeing people use my app. It’s always a tremendous feeling when you see people enjoying something you made yourself, and for Delta especially it’s a bit more surreal. I’ll never forget scrolling through Threads a couple of days after launch and my entire feed was filled with people posting screenshots of playing their favorite retro games on Delta 🙂
Do you have any “spicy”, funny, or terrifying stories about working with/on Apple’s platforms over the years?
The most terrifying thing that’s happened to me as an Apple developer was when Apple broke AltStore’s ability to sign in with Apple IDs out of nowhere just a couple of months after launching. This effectively caused everyone’s sideloaded apps to stop opening, and I had to completely reverse-engineer Apple’s new authentication process as quickly as possible to fix this before the narrative became that Apple “killed” AltStore. Thankfully I managed to release a fix a couple of weeks later, and haven’t had to deal with anything that significant ever since.
Riley’s ambition and desire to preserve gaming, and bring the same memories from his childhood to newer, younger, and differently tech-abled generations is shown throughout Delta.
Delta is often seen as the premier choice when it comes to Nintendo-based emulation on Apple platforms, and a large part of that is because of its theme community, and its overall UI and UX aligning itself with Apple’s general guidelines. Those guidelines help apps seem as if they’re an official, Apple-made apps, functioning in the ways you would expect them to.
Talking to Riley, you can clearly tell that making Delta is not something done to seek fame but to bring the joy he remembers from playing these games and making sure those same memories can always be with him. And by bringing these retro consoles to the modern era through emulation, he’s making sure others can experience that same level of joy.
Delta can be found on the iOS App Store and is available natively on iPhone and iPad. You can use screen sharing on either of the aforementioned devices to display games through an Apple TV while using the phone or tablet as a controller.
You can follow Riley on Threads or Mastodon, and contribute directly to the continued development of all of his apps by subscribing to his Patreon.
What did you think of this interview? Are you excited to see what Riley does next? What’s your favorite game to play on Delta? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
This page may contain affiliate links, by purchasing something through a link, Retro Handhelds may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you.