Yet another Nintendo console emulator has fallen by the wayside as a developer at Switch emulator Ryujinx has announced its closure on Discord.
The message, initially shared by video game news aggregator Wario64 on X (formerly Twitter), revealed that the lead developer, known as “gdkchan,” was contacted by Nintendo and instructed to discontinue work on the project and remove all related assets under his control. The terms of the agreement offered by Nintendo remain undisclosed.
Despite gdkchan not divulging his decision to developer “riperiperi,” who posted the statement, all download links have been removed from the website. As of now, the Github directory has been archived and transitioned to read-only mode.
Riperiperi expressed gratitude to the followers for their support during development, acknowledging the enriching experiences gained and promising unique circumstances while enjoying the games. The full statement can be accessed below.
Looks like Ryujinx (Switch emulator) is dead pic.twitter.com/gE1qH30Axs
— Wario64 (@Wario64) October 1, 2024
Speculation arose on Tuesday about Ryujinx, an open-source Switch emulator developed in C# compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users on the subreddit noticed inactivity on the app, Github errors, and missing download links. While some initially theorized a hack on the Github or a fixable issue, other Discord messages seemed to indicate it wasn’t due to legal action by Nintendo.
Ryujinx joins the ranks of Switch emulators that have faced shutdowns following Nintendo’s intervention. Competitor Yuzu, for instance, settled with Nintendo in March, ceased operations, and paid a sum of $2.4 million. Originally sued for copyright infringement and facilitating piracy of “Tears of the Kingdom,” Yuzu faced legal consequences. Nintendo has also recently taken legal action against the developer of open-world survival game “Palworld” for infringing on undisclosed patents.
