Nintendo’s War on Emulation: Why It’s a Battle They Can’t Win

For years, Nintendo has waged war on emulators, targeting projects it deems a threat to its intellectual property. Yet, despite the company’s best efforts, the emulation community only continues to grow stronger. In late 2024, Nintendo dealt a major blow to Ryujinx, a popular Nintendo Switch emulator, following its earlier takedown of Yuzu in the same year. But instead of ending Switch emulation, these actions had the opposite effect. Developers quickly forked the code for both emulators, mirrored it on GitHub, and launched improved versions, ensuring the projects lived on.

Meanwhile, emulators like Dolphin, My Boy!, and Snes9xEX+ remain favorites on platforms like the Google Play Store, making emulation more accessible than ever—especially with the rise of powerful Android gaming phones. Yet, Nintendo continues to crack down, this time targeting the forks of Ryujinx and Yuzu that replaced the originals. Ironically, these aggressive tactics often draw more attention to emulation, fueling the very scene Nintendo aims to suppress.

The Hydra Effect: Cutting One Head, Two More Appear

With the Nintendo Switch 2 trailer recently revealed, it’s no surprise that Nintendo has ramped up its attack on Switch emulators. Earlier in 2024, they scored a legal victory when Yuzu developers settled a $2 million lawsuit out of court. But shutting down Yuzu didn’t end the project—it only inspired the community to act. In less than a week, over 8,000 forks of Yuzu popped up, carrying on its development.

Ryujinx faced a similar fate. While details remain unclear, Nintendo likely used legal threats or settlements to shut it down. Yet, within hours of its takedown, developers mirrored its code and launched improved forks on GitHub. Far from eliminating these emulators, Nintendo’s actions only ensured their survival in new and improved forms.

The emulation community’s resilience is often compared to the mythical Hydra—cut off one head, and two more grow back. Open-source projects thrive on decentralization, making them incredibly hard to kill. Targeting a single developer or project does little to stop the collective efforts of a global community driven by passion and the desire to preserve gaming history.

Nintendo’s Legal Tactics Come at a Cost

Nintendo’s aggressive approach to emulation isn’t new. The company has a long history of legal action, from shutting down ROM-sharing websites to targeting emulator developers like those behind Dolphin. While these efforts protect Nintendo’s short-term financial interests, they come at a significant cost.

For decades, Nintendo has cultivated a family-friendly image with beloved characters like Mario and Zelda. Yet, its harsh legal tactics paint a different picture: a corporation willing to alienate fans, preservationists, and creators to maintain control over its intellectual property. This heavy-handed approach fails to account for the decentralized and collaborative nature of emulation. Open-source projects aren’t controlled by a single entity, making them almost impossible to shut down entirely.

Emulation Is More Than Just Piracy

Nintendo often frames its battle against emulation as a fight to stop piracy. While emulators can be used for that purpose, many fans turn to emulation for reasons Nintendo refuses to address.

Reasons Fans Turn to Emulation:

Game Preservation: A 2018 study by the Video Game History Foundation found that 87% of classic games are no longer available for purchase. Emulation ensures these games aren’t lost to time.
Outdated Technology: Many older consoles are incompatible with modern TVs, and Nintendo doesn’t always make classic games available on new platforms. Emulators allow fans to play these titles on current hardware.
Mods and Improvements: Emulation lets fans enhance their gaming experience with 4K resolution, higher frame rates, and custom mods, keeping older games relevant and exciting for new audiences.

Nintendo’s focus on piracy overlooks these legitimate benefits of emulation. Fans who emulate often do so because Nintendo fails to provide accessible or updated ways to play older games.

A Missed Opportunity for Nintendo

Nintendo’s refusal to embrace emulation is a missed opportunity. By working with the emulation community instead of against it, Nintendo could generate goodwill, expand its audience, and protect its legacy.

Support Mods: Allowing fans to mod their games, as companies like Bethesda have done with Skyrim, fosters creativity and long-term engagement.
Preserve Gaming History: Partnering with archivists and preservationists would ensure Nintendo’s vast library of titles isn’t lost to time.
Offer Official Emulators: By providing high-quality, official emulators for modern hardware, Nintendo could meet demand while maintaining control over its games.

These steps would align with Nintendo’s long-term interests and show respect for its passionate fanbase. Unfortunately, the company seems more focused on control and profits than collaboration.

Nintendo Is Fighting a Losing Battle

Nintendo’s war on emulation is a fight it can’t win. Open-source development guarantees that every takedown inspires new projects, often more advanced than what came before. The rise of powerful devices like Android gaming phones and Chromebooks makes emulation more accessible than ever, with apps like Dolphin enabling fans to play GameCube and Wii games across multiple platforms.

Instead of alienating fans, content creators, and preservationists, Nintendo could embrace emulation as part of its ecosystem. Supporting mods, offering official solutions, and collaborating with the community would allow Nintendo to protect its legacy without tarnishing its reputation. Until that happens, the Hydra will continue to grow, ensuring that emulation thrives despite Nintendo’s best efforts to suppress it.