A newly released update to iCube, an emulator that runs Wii and GameCube titles on iOS devices, now allows the app to run games more smoothly than ever before — and it does so without relying on a performance technique called JIT.
iCube allows users to play classic Nintendo games from the 2000s on their iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Build 1.0.0 has just been released, which allows games to run at 60 frames per second.
A video from developer Provenance demonstrates the silky-smooth 60 fps performance with a number of beloved GameCube titles, including Super Smash Bros. Melee, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and more.
I did it.
iCube running GameCube and Wii jitless 60fps for most games even with 2x upscaling
Builds should be live in the morning. https://t.co/4DQAos6skg and TestFlight, side-loads also now support iOS 26 JIT #gamecube #wii pic.twitter.com/opfj3tCW40
— Provenance-Emu 🎮🕹 (@provenanceapp) September 19, 2026
What makes this especially notable is that iCube achieves this high performance without JIT. In simple terms, JIT (short for “just-in-time” compilation) is a speed-up method emulators often use. On iOS, though, Apple’s security rules make JIT difficult for most apps unless special workarounds (like attaching a debugger) are applied. By bypassing the need for JIT, iCube makes the emulation process much easier.
The iCube app is based on the Dolphin emulator, which has long been renowned for its impressive performance and high compatibility rate with Wii and GameCube games.
iCube is not available on the official App Store, so users must install it using SideStore or StikDebug for iOS/iPadOS, or Sideloadly for tvOS. Instructions, guides, and FAQs are available on the iCube website.
Minimum requirements for iCube are iOS 16.0 / tvOS 17.0 or above. It can run on an iPhone 12, a sixth-generation iPad, though the website recommends at least an iPhone 16 or a seventh-generation iPad for optimum performance.
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Written by Reece Heather
A veteran Zelda Universe editor and First-class journalism graduate, Reece emerged with a Nintendo 64 and a lifelong obsession after a narrow escape from Santa’s Naughty List in 1998. Outside of games, he’s reading Punisher comics, being bossed around by his cocker spaniel, and cornering innocent bystanders to rant about the importance of game preservation.
