Nintendo Switch Emulators: Why They're Shutting Down

In 2024, two popular Nintendo Switch emulators have been taken offline. Ryujinx is the latest to go after a deal with Nintendo. The agreement came after legal issues with another emulator, Yuzu. Ryujinx was a big hit, letting people play over 3,400 games on different systems like Windows and Linux. But now, it's gone from the web. Its Patreon page is still up, though. Nintendo isn't happy with these emulators because they can be used to play pirated games. When a new Zelda game leaked early, many people used Yuzu to play it illegally. But not everyone uses emulators for that. Some just want to play games they own on different devices. Emulators are also important for keeping old games alive when they're taken offline. The Ryujinx team shared their feelings about the shutdown on Discord. One developer said it was life-changing to use an emulator for the first time. They also talked about future projects that won't happen now, like playing Switch games on phones. Though they're leaving Switch emulation, they still believe in its importance for game preservation. Nintendo hasn't shared more details yet. Polygon tried to reach out but didn't hear back from Ryujinx developers. The shutdown is a big loss for gamers who use emulators for various reasons. It raises questions about the future of game preservation and how companies like Nintendo view these tools.