It’s no secret that Delta is perhaps the most popular emulator app on the iOS & iPadOS platforms as of right now – after becoming one of the most well-known emulator apps via sideloading even before Apple started allowing it in the App Store, it only skyrocketed in popularity once it officially became available in the App Store. But despite how popular Delta is, one thing has always been missing… online multiplayer.
My friends, that’s all changing starting today. In an announcement shared to social media platform 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the AltStore team announced that Delta version 1.7 is now available for everyone with online multiplayer support for Nintendo DS games (and several other changes) via AltStore PAL and the App Store.
The full change log is as follows:
Online Multiplayer
– Play online-compatible Nintendo DS games with friends around the world!
– Connect via community Nintendo WFC servers
– Choose one of the detault servers (Wiimmfi, WiiLink WFC, or AltWFC) or provide a custom DNSUpdated N64 Core
– Uses OpenGL ES 3.0 to render games
– Fixes many graphical issues (e.g. black textures)
– Optionally switch back to OpenGL ES 2.0 on per-game basis
– Custom resolutions by editing mupen64plus.ini file
– Custom texture packs via Mupen64Plus ‘hires_texture’ directoryGame Screenshots
– New pause menu option to take game screenshots
– Map game controller buttons to take screenshots
– New ‘screenshot’ input for controller skinsGame Controller Skins
– Choose a skin to use when a game controller is connected
– Choose system-wide or per-gameController Case Support
– Controller skins can adjust position of pause menu via new ‘menuInsets’ property
– Allows using pause menu with cases such as GAMEBABY and PlayCaseGame Settings
– New context-menu option for per-game settings
– Includes “Preferred Game Skin,” “OpenGL ES 3.0” for N64, and “Inserted GBA Game” for DSFixed
– Fixed using analog sticks as discrete inputs for controllers with poor calibration
– Fixed black/missing/incorrect textures in various N64 games
– Fixed white screen after (un-)locking device while AirPlaying DS games
– Fixed no audio for game previews in silent mode when Respect Silent Mode is off
– Fixed showing all save states as incompatible for non-DS systems
– Fixed crash when viewing save states for unsupported system
– Fixed missing accessibility label for Settings button
– Fixed not showing “Reset” button when choosing landscape skin
– Fixed not showing “Reset” button when choosing per-game Game Controller or AirPlay skins
– Fixed “Hold Button” description layout after orientation change
– [Delta Sync] Fixed misleading “file does not exist” errors when previous version is missing
– [iPad] Fixed quitting all games when using multiple scenes
While support for online multiplayer is perhaps the biggest change in this update, it shouldn’t be discounted that there are a substantial number of bug fixes and improvements in this update, especially as it pertains to graphical, AirPlay, Controller Skins, and compatibility.
Users will also appreciate the newfangled OpenGL ES 3.0 core, as it can help make game rendering smoother and more pleasing to the eyes. There is, of course, a fallback option to OpenGL ES 2.0 if you find that the newer OpenGL ES 3.0 core doesn’t work as well for certain games.
An important note about online multiplayer is that while you can now play Nintendo DS games with other Delta emulator users from anywhere in the world via the community Nintendo WFC servers, you will not be able to play with actual Nintendo DS owners.
In effect, this means you can now race other Delta users in Mario Kart, battle or trade other Delta users in Pokémon, or play other multiplayer-supported games with your friends over the internet, wherever you are.
Be sure to get the latest update to Delta for free from the App Store before Apple changes their mind, as this is a major update that retro gamers won’t want to miss.