- Ryujinx, a popular open-source Nintendo Switch emulator, has been removed from GitHub, ceasing development after negotiations with Nintendo.
- The emulator’s developers have halted future projects, including an Android port and local multiplayer features.
- Riperiperi encourages ongoing support for emulation and game preservation despite recent setbacks.
In a significant turn of events for the gaming community, the well-known open-source Nintendo Switch emulator, Ryujinx, has been removed from GitHub, indicating the conclusion of its development. This decision comes after reported discussions between the development team and Nintendo, leading to an agreement that has yet to be publicly detailed. Developer riperiperi shared on Discord that gdkchan, another member of the Ryujinx team, was approached by Nintendo and asked to cease work on the project entirely. Following this communication, it seems that the organization associated with Ryujinx has been taken down from GitHub.
As of now, while the Ryujinx website is still accessible, crucial pages such as the download section and GitHub-hosted links are non-functional. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that the last progress report from the Ryujinx team was released back in January, after a consistent update schedule throughout 2023. The last official communication via their social media accounts was in March, coinciding with other troubling developments in the emulation community.
March marked a pivotal moment for Switch emulation when Yuzu’s creators settled a lawsuit with Nintendo for $2.4 million, which centered on claims that their project facilitated piracy on a grand scale. Following this legal scrutiny, Suyu—a Yuzu fork operating in a “legal gray area”—has also been subjected to Nintendo’s enforcement actions, including a DMCA takedown request and the removal of its official Discord server. Similarly, another fork known as Sudachi faced removal from GitHub in July due to a DMCA request.
In light of these legal challenges, the Ryujinx developers had previously reassured their community with an automated message indicating that there were no imminent threats to the emulator. However, the current state of affairs has altered that outlook. Development on several promising projects, including an Android port and an iOS tech demo, has been halted. The developers were also exploring features for local wired multiplayer connections, which will now not see the light of day.
Despite these setbacks, riperiperi expressed hope for the future of emulation, emphasizing that the preservation of video game history relies on dedicated individuals. As of May 2024, Ryujinx had made impressive strides, having been tested on over 4,300 titles, with the majority deemed playable. The cessation of its development raises questions about the future of game preservation efforts and whether new projects will emerge in the wake of these challenges.
