Pirating iOS games without sideloading/jailbreaking

[Tonberry]

I don't think there's a dedicated mobile subforum so I'll just ask here since I guess it could fit under handheld?

Does anyone know if it's possible to install/play .ipa files without doing jailbreaking/sideload stuff to your iPhone?

I really want to play the iOS version of Dragon Quest 4 (I bought the android version a thousand years ago but I don't use those phones anymore so rebuying it has always stung since it's like 20 bucks), but I'm not sure if that's possible without doing some sort of sideloading/jailbreaking stuff, which I'm slightly reluctant to do because I don't want to risk bricking my phone just to play a game.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Yousef Yousef]

I hope I’m not misreading this, but isn’t DQ4 already on the App Store? I don’t think it’s been delisted.
That said, yeah this would be valuable for playing SMT and Ace Attorney’s first iOS ports. Also rythm thief!

 

[Tonberry]

I hope I’m not misreading this, but isn’t DQ4 already on the App Store? I don’t think it’s been delisted.
That said, yeah this would be valuable for playing SMT and Ace Attorney’s first iOS ports. Also rythm thief!

Yeah it's still there.
I'm only asking because I'm always really stingy about buying mobile games (especially one I bought a decade ago on another ecosystem lol). I have a downloaded .ipa file but I wanted to ask in advance if anyone knows if it's possible to get it to run without me trying all those extra measures, since I don't want to risk bricking my phone for it.

 

[Graw]

>buys overpriced fashion accessory
>expects to use it like a computer

 

[Rei de Nada]

Retroarch, MelonDS core, DQ Rom. Then game I think?

 

[Tonberry]

Retroarch, MelonDS core, DQ Rom. Then game I think?

I did try it, and while it works fine, the controls are abysmal to me.
The native mobile ports of DQ games have like the only mobile control scheme I can tolerate as they don't obliterate my thumbs.

>buys overpriced fashion accessory
>expects to use it like a computer

goo goo ga ga wah wah

 

[Graw]

goo goo ga ga wah wah

Sorry I don't speak iPhone user.

 

[Dani.]

Try the delta emulator.

 

[Miles Miles]

If you want to install IPA files, I'm pretty sure jailbreaking is the only option. If you want to install apps from external sources, you're much better off using Android.

 

[ladyerrant]

If you want to install IPA files, I'm pretty sure jailbreaking is the only option. If you want to install apps from external sources, you're much better off using Android.

For now anyway:

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year

Google says it’s no different than checking IDs at the airport.

arstechnica.com

Google is going to block installation of unverified apps "soon"

 

[Miles Miles]

For now anyway:

Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year

Google says it’s no different than checking IDs at the airport.

arstechnica.com

Google is going to block installation of unverified apps "soon"

Hopefully there will be a way around that.

 

[ladyerrant]

Hopefully there will be a way around that.

Google is I think purposefully light on details here, but it seems they plan to implement the block via GMS (Play services), so disabling or removing Play Services might the the only option. That means no store and no app that is built to use GMS (most of the app store, certainly anything paid).

 

[Deleted member 560402]

there's ios games like Triazzle, Scarab of Ra, ect that were ports or remakes of older computer games that i'd like to emulate.

 

[ZombieFish]

Yeah, iOS is pretty hostile. I keep older devices around for jailbreaking and sideloading without risking my phone. They drop in price pretty quick secondhand once they’re not the new hotness.