Jnes removed from Google Play store

posted by Jabo Jnes
I'm sorry to inform everyone Jnes has been removed from the store by Google on December 2nd. After contacting Google several times this week, I have received a response indicating that they have declined to put the application back into the store due to perceived copyright infringement. Knowing that there are users that have downloaded the app already I decided to write a blog post now that I know it's not returning.

As things sit right now my account is suspended and I am unable to distribute anything, contact Google Play support with any questions or if you want to convince them to put it back.

Going into this I knew that being removed was a possible outcome! It seems like Google Play has become a walled garden and provides little consideration to developers and users. Thanks to everyone that supported this, wish it didn't end up like this.
Comments 39

Fantist 1449282752000 #1

Sorry to hear it. I had a feeling this was coming with Nintendo bringing their games to mobile. I made sure to turn off all auto updates for apps on the Play Store. Wouldn't put it past Nintendo to either force authors to take down their emulators or to release an "update" that breaks them.

DixieKongJD 1449404450000 #2

Couldn't you distribute it a different way, such as on this site?
Shame to hear this has happened, and this is a reason I hate mobile devices (and Windows 10).

I read somewhere Windows 10 can disable files it wants to, to stop piracy and such (emulators etc.) which makes it even worse an OS.

Jabo 1449412073000 #3

That's a possible outcome, for the moment I will see how this plays out, I would rather be in the store since that is where people go for apps.

I dislike mobile as well, if anything, this has brought me back to Windows, Android development is not as enjoyable, nor is the platform as good for games.

aabhash 1449554484000 #4


There are other markets where you can put the app,or just put it here,or in a blog or something.

Yug 1449650691000 #5

Makes no sense since there is plenty of Nintendo based emulators there still.

Theedoo 1449957788000 #6

I think the reason they took it off the play store is because emulation technically is illegal so I think that is the one reason they did do that

Alex 1450035924000 #7

Remember SuperGnes. Probably the same story.
http://www.superretro16.com/blog.aspx?post=575&title=Google+Policy+Violation+Notice

SuperGNES => Super Retro 16
This meant we had to make a lot of changes, and quickly. Some of those included changing the name and logo of our emulator...


Alex 1450036027000 #8

Emulator is not illegal. Jnes use copyright materiel like the name : NES and probably cover or screenshot.

Jabo 1450198670000 #9

This meant we had to make a lot of changes, and quickly. Some of those included changing the name and logo of our emulator...

Yea I liked that app as well, I used it for SNES a few times, you sound like the author of this app? Sadly it's the same story for Jnes, but at this point I'm not willing to try again only to randomly be taken down at their whim. Perhaps time will change my mind, but this is a hobby for me, I enjoyed having an app in the market that was well reviewed, but now all those years of work are gone. I'm not sure yet what the next step will be, I really hate the idea of renaming the app for example, Jnes has existed for too long to rename it. Their support team was responsive, but unwilling to help in any way.

Emulator is not illegal. Jnes use copyright materiel like the name : NES and probably cover or screenshot.

That's the impression I got, but they weren't very specific, nor would they let me fix this. I was led to believe that emulators aren't welcome in Google Play, unless you hide it well or fly under their radar. This is a poor strategy for investing my time and the people who download the apps.

Makes no sense since there is plenty of Nintendo based emulators there still.

Yea that compounds my frustration and confusion about what to do. But as I said in the blog post, I knew the risks.

Kaz 1450407044000 #10

Technically, emulation is not illegal. If you legally own the ROM, like on a cartridge, then you can legally download it or rip it off of the cartridge and play it with emulators. It's not copyright infringement!

Yug 1450584059000 #11

Which proves that google is being ignorant and paranoid!

Left4Cake 1450876129000 #12

Please consider uploading the .apk files here.

ron 1451616158000 #13

change the app name and try again

moonlitmilkman 1452160337000 #14

Post it up on F-Droid. It's a nice FOSS alt to the Play Store.

JediJames13 1452642636000 #15

You could also put it in the Amazon App store

T.J. McMillen 1453170008000 #16

Sorry to hear that. App worked(s) great. Only issue now is that it cannot download box art. Any work around for this? Or a sideload to fix this since it was a paid app?

JediJames13 1453449716000 #17

Everybody call Google play support! I did, convince them. BTW did you actually lose the app and all the code when they suspended your account?

StickOfButter 1453669245000 #18

I use Aptoide. No auto-updates, and I get games for free.

Jabo 1453674730000 #19

You could also put it in the Amazon App store

For some reason I just can't take Amazon seriously for apps, it doesn't seem like there are many publishers using it either, but it's certainly an option.

Sorry to hear that. App worked(s) great. Only issue now is that it cannot download box art. Any work around for this? Or a sideload to fix this since it was a paid app?

Thank you. I am trying to figure out what the next steps are such as side loading but am very busy lately. Since everything was tied to the play store some services may not work. I would suggest calling Google Play support since there isn't much I can do in the short term.

Everybody call Google play support! I did, convince them. BTW did you actually lose the app and all the code when they suspended your account?

Appreciate the help, certainly having the app back would be a lot simpler for everyone! I still have the ability to build the app, but I have no clue right now how I will distribute it, there aren't a lot of good options and I'm very short on time sadly for the next few months.

I use Aptoide. No auto-updates, and I get games for free.

That's probably the best third-party store I've seen! Thanks for sharing.

JediJames13 1453855864000 #20

Maybe if you put it in amazon app store that might help convince Google to put it back, if you did then people would be able to put it on their amazon devices as well (amazon devices like the kindle fire and fire tv don't have Google play). Ypu could also maybe ask google what part of the app violates copyright, maybe its the pic of the nes controller in the icon, or the thumbnail for ROM images that look like a cartrigde. Maybe if you fixed whatever it is then they would put it back. Both ideas are long shots I guess

JediJames13 1453856915000 #21

Sometimes people just distribute apk's via email but i guess you would have to set up a way for people to pay for the app first, maybe through google wallet or paypal or something, and then email the person the file.

jimbo1qaz 1454004522000 #22

Aptoide is AWFUL. It is highly bloated with a slow and glitchy installation interface. It frequently installs the wrong CPU architecture or version of apps, resulting in nonfunctional apps. And it always tries to update Snes9xEX+ to a really old and broken version.

Fernandez21 1454834587000 #23

This is crap, they even removed it from my account. I had purchased the app and it works great, my favorite emulator. Recently I switched phones, and now I can't download it. This really sucks, on my iPhone even after an app is removed from the app store I can still download it as long as I had already purchased it. And worse case scenario I can save a copy to my iTunes. Can't believe Google just completely removes it like that, giving paying customers no way of storing an app we paid for to use with future devices.

dabunking 1456430313000 #24

Please make a free version and post it here, your emulator is the best NES android emulator currently its so sad to see.

Monkey 1456508825000 #25

I am very sad to hear this.
I loved running games for off of my Kaillera server for friends using both Windows and Android. I think this was the only emulator for Android that could do that.

I don't buy the illegality argument, as there are emulators being offered in Google Play that do the exact same thing.

Do consider releasing the .apk files, when you have the time.

Office Action 1456614620000 #26

Could you possibly upload the apk somewhere else? Like this site? I love the program on PC and it would be awesome on android.

GE Master 1458150277000 #27

Hi Jabo. Not easy to contact you here, but if you would be kind enough, could you somehow contact me? We've had conversations in the past regarding GoldenEye. Not trying to spam your comment section. No email contact anywhere that I can see. I wanted to discuss/inquire about PJ64. Thanks. contact (at) goldeneyeforever dot com. Thanks!

Jabo 1458308921000 #28

No email contact anywhere that I can see. I wanted to discuss/inquire about PJ64.

Hi GE Master, I am no longer working on PJ64, I left quite a few years ago. I'm not confident I will be of much help to you there. If you still would like, you can ask your question here, I can always move the conversation to another thread. If it is private in nature perhaps you can arrange a message on Emutalk instead.

GE Master 1458525325000 #29

Thank you. I've messaged you on emutalk. Thanks!

Svet 1460421333000 #30

well at least it is still for windous

GuyWonder22 1464837172000 #31

I bought a copy off of Google Play store can you please send me a copy of the apk to my email. [link removed]

Erdrick 1467293981000 #32

Why can't you simply post the apk here? Those who really want it will come get it. There are alot of new emulators on the play store, I don't understand why they singled out jnes...

Sorry for the double post. Freaking auto-correct and I didn't catch it before I posted.

Jabo 1468936844000 #33

Why can't you simply post the apk here?

I am planning on that I just don't have time right now, sadly Google removing the app happened at a poor time.

Lando Vieira 1478027470000 #34

I brought this emulator on Google Play, but I do not have any backup of the app, how can i download it back in legal way?

Gent 1478201001000 #35

sorry to hear this... It is such a shame that Google Play has to resort to this kind of action without a thought to the author or you the buyers in good faith that the store operates with consideration.
It obviously does not.

Maybe 1483590449000 #36

Maybe, you had code ripped from somewhere else?

Jabo 1483744049000 #37

Maybe, you had code ripped from somewhere else?

Nah, after appealing the decision the reasons they provided indicated that Google felt the app infringed on copyrights by impersonating a game system, basically it was an emulator.

Above and beyond that, there is no way to know what may have initiated it. Most of the blogs I've read say it is random and triggered by unknown events, I will not make wild speculations.

Mboursaw 1489372545000 #38

I really need your app
is there a way I can get a copy of the last version?

Jabo 1489593798000 #39

I really need your app
is there a way I can get a copy of the last version?

Yea you can download it from Google Play it's free now.

Add comment



Please be respectful and post comments relevant to the article.