Another day, another Nintendo console emulator bites the dust. Ryujinx, a popular open-source Switch emulator written in C# and known for its compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux, has shut down after its lead developer, known as “gdkchan,” received a cease and desist order from Nintendo.
The news was shared on Discord by another developer, “riperiperi,” who revealed that Nintendo contacted gdkchan and demanded he cease work on the project, remove all related assets, and enter into an undisclosed agreement. While the exact terms of the agreement remain unknown, all download links for the emulator have been removed from its website and the Github repository is now read-only.
“Thank you all for following us throughout the development,” riperiperi wrote in a statement. “I was able to learn a lot of really neat things about games that I love, enjoy them with renewed qualities and in unique circumstances, and I’m sure you all have experiences that are similarly special.”
The shutdown of Ryujinx comes as no surprise, given Nintendo’s aggressive stance against emulation. Earlier this year, the company reached a settlement with Yuzu, another popular Switch emulator, for a sum of $2.4 million. This followed a lawsuit by Nintendo alleging copyright infringement and facilitation of piracy, specifically targeting the popular game “Tears of the Kingdom.”
Nintendo has also recently taken legal action against the developer of “Palworld,” an open-world survival game, alleging patent infringement, although the specific patents involved remain undisclosed.
The continued crackdown on Switch emulators highlights the challenges developers face in navigating the legal landscape of gaming. While many argue that emulation provides access to games that may otherwise be unavailable, Nintendo’s perspective is that such activities infringe on its intellectual property rights and potentially facilitate piracy.
The shutdown of Ryujinx, along with the previous settlement involving Yuzu, serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of developing and distributing emulators for popular gaming consoles.
