Ryujinx, the only remaining Nintendo Switch emulator for PC after the shutdown of Yuzu, has now also been taken down by Nintendo. This development was disclosed a few hours ago by one of the main collaborators of the project. Ryujinx holds the distinction of being the first emulator to successfully boot commercial Switch games.
Here is the message shared with the community on Discord:
“Yesterday, gdkchan (the author) was contacted by Nintendo and offered an agreement to stop working on the project, remove the organization, and delete all related assets under his control. While awaiting confirmation on whether he would accept this agreement, the organization has already been removed. It is likely safe to say the decision is final. To prevent panic and speculation, I decided to write this short note to offer some closure. The words are solely mine, and I don’t intend to speak for anyone else.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed code, documentation, or issue reports to the project. Thank you all for following us throughout the development. 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. I’m extending my own massive thanks to our moderation team, who have been here through some rough circumstances and always found ways to make light of it.
As it stands, Ryujinx can no longer be downloaded via GitHub or the official website, where the download page has been completely blanked out. It seems that after years of tolerance, Nintendo has decided to take definitive action against Switch emulators and the associated piracy scenes.
Additionally, Nintendo has recently announced a lawsuit against Palworld, accusing Pocketpair of infringing multiple patents with their game. Unlike the emulator developers who likely ceased operations due to insufficient funds to combat legal proceedings, Palworld, being one of the best-selling games released in 2024, might be better positioned to challenge these allegations.
The shutdown of Ryujinx marks a significant moment in the gaming community, highlighting Nintendo’s stringent stance against emulation and piracy.
