Floppy Cloud is branded as a file management app that allows users to manage their files from a Dropbox account or FTP server. However, MacRumors' sister-site TouchArcade has found that the app allows users to easily emulate Nintendo and Super Nintendo games.

floppycloud

Floppy Cloud emulator image via TouchArcade

It's masquerading as a file management app, which technically lets you manage your files, but if you let it "manage" a .nes NES ROM or a .smc Super Nintendo ROM in a very special way: It'll load right up inside of the appropriate emulator. Both iCade and MFi controllers are supported too, making this a particularly sweet find for someone who owns any kind of controller accessory.

The app imports the .nes NES ROM or .smc Super Nintendo ROM via Dropbox, allowing a user to "manage" the file. However, when one of those two files is selected for "management", an emulator pops up and allows users to play Nintendo and Super Nintendo video games. Traditionally, Apple has taken a strict stance on emulators in the App Store, taking them down as soon as they can.

In late 2011, just before the holidays iTunes freeze, the iMAME Arcade Emulator appeared in the App Store. Two days after arriving, Apple pulled the app from the App Store. Floppy Cloud, however, has been in the App Store since October 30, likely because the app appears to be a simple file manager and that doesn't bring up the emulator until a game has been imported and selected.

This past May, GBA4iOS, a Game Boy emulator that bypassed Apple's App Store restrictions as it could be installed directly to a device via the project's official website, was shut down due to a Digital Millennium Copyright Claim from Nintendo.

Floppy Cloud is a universal app currently available in the App Store for $1.99. [Direct Link]

Update 1/23 3:30 PM PT: The Floppy Cloud app has been removed from the App Store and is no longer available for download.

Top Rated Comments

BeSweeet Avatar
134 months ago
This is why we don't have nice things.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheJae Avatar
134 months ago
There's Obviously A Market For It, Why Not Bring Back the Game Boy Color???

You mean like a separate physical device? :eek:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zaphon Avatar
134 months ago
3 .. 2 .. 1 .. and it's gone!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Waxhead138 Avatar
134 months ago
Yep

It's controlled by the carrier... some don't allow it. That said, a tethering app snuck into the app store aaaages ago I swear!!

Yep it did. At least one. The one I got was simply called "Tether". I have it....it lasted maybe 12 hours on the app store before being pulled, and ran 15.00. Still works just fine, and this thing was released just before or just after IOS6 came out.

One theory at the time was that Apple knowingly let this onto the store, simply to show the Cell Providers that at it's leisure, they absolutley had the power to provide the option. Kind of a subtle warning.

Makes sense too....look at the name of the app. They didn't even attempt to hide what it did. My memory also says the description made no attempts to hide the functionality. Also...now that I've had it for awhile, over two years....Apple knows it exists and has made no effort to disable it from any updates.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eniregnat Avatar
134 months ago
A substantial waste of $2 towards an obviously scammy developer. I'm sure it works, but the only options to put in files are to give it Dropbox credentials or use FTP (which is unencrypted). It supports neither iTunes File Sharing nor Open In. These are telltale signs of nefarious activity.

Dropbox uses tokenization, so atleast this rout is fairly secure. I have not looked into your FTP claims. A burner Dropbox account or one with nothing important in it would make use of the app safer.

What is worrying is that ROMs, not created by the user from an actual cartridge, could contain malicious code. Even with sandboxing, this could be a problem. It is the sort of thing I'd expect in a Gibson novel, but on this scale would have little praticle application.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ToastyFlake Avatar
134 months ago
Why doesn't Nintendo just sell an app that allows play of these game?

Not only Nintendo, but all of the holders of the licenses of classic video games. I would love to pay to download my favorite games from the 80s. It seems like they're missing an opportunity to make money.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...