React Native 0.88.x-rc crash on iPhone Duo

Description

If you try to build and run the latest RN version on iPhone Duo simulator

App will crash with the next error:

failure in void _UIApplicationEvaluateRuntimeIssueForNoSceneLifecycleAdoption(void)_block_invoke (UIApplication_RuntimeIssues.m:106) : Application failed to launch: UIScene life cycle is required for apps built with this SDK. See "Transitioning to the UIKit scene-based life cycle" in the UIKit documentation for more information on migration.

Steps to reproduce

1. Download Xcode 27.1 beta: https://developer.apple.com/download/applications/
2. npx @react-native-community/cli init --pm yarn --version 0.88.0-rc.0 RN88Duo
3. RN88Duo
4. npx pod-install
5. open "RN88Duo" in new Xcode 27.1
6. Run on iPhone Duo

React Native Version

0.88.0-rc.0

Affected Platforms

Runtime - iOS

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

System:
  OS: macOS 27.0
  CPU: (11) arm64 Apple M3 Pro
  Memory: 62.80 MB / 36.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: 4.0.1
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/fish
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 24.13.1
    path: /usr/local/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 3.6.4
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/yarn
  npm:
    version: 11.8.0
    path: /usr/local/bin/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.09.01.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /Users/xd/.rbenv/shims/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.2
      - iOS 26.2
      - macOS 26.2
      - tvOS 26.2
      - visionOS 26.2
      - watchOS 26.2
  Android SDK:
    API Levels:
      - "31"
      - "34"
      - "35"
      - "36"
      - "37"
    Build Tools:
      - 30.0.3
      - 33.0.1
      - 34.0.0
      - 35.0.0
      - 36.0.0
      - 37.0.0
    System Images:
      - android-34 | Android TV ARM 64 v8a
      - android-34 | Google TV ARM 64 v8a
      - android-35 | Google APIs ARM 64 v8a
      - android-35 | Google Play ARM 64 v8a
      - android-36 | Android TV ARM 64 v8a
      - android-36 | Google TV ARM 64 v8a
    Android NDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2026.1 AI-261.26222.65.2614.16204760
  Xcode:
    version: 26.2/17C52
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 17.0.13
    path: /usr/bin/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 3.4.2
    path: /Users/xd/.rbenv/shims/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli":
    installed: 20.2.0
    wanted: 20.2.0
  react:
    installed: 19.2.3
    wanted: 19.2.3
  react-native:
    installed: 0.88.0-rc.0
    wanted: 0.88.0-rc.0
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: true
  newArchEnabled: true

Stacktrace or Logs

failure in void _UIApplicationEvaluateRuntimeIssueForNoSceneLifecycleAdoption(void)_block_invoke (UIApplication_RuntimeIssues.m:106) : Application failed to launch: UIScene life cycle is required for apps built with this SDK. See "Transitioning to the UIKit scene-based life cycle" in the UIKit documentation for more information on migration.

MANDATORY Reproducer

https://github.com/retyui/RN88Duo

Screenshots and Videos

Start by cloning the mandatory RN88Duo reproducer and following its Xcode 27.1 and iPhone Duo steps. Inspect the generated iOS application setup in the reproducer and compare the launch behavior with the UIScene lifecycle requirement in the reported error. Done means the React Native 0.88.0-rc.0 app launches instead of crashing on the iPhone Duo simulator.