Nintendo is known for fiercely protecting its intellectual properties and products. With this in mind, it was only a matter of time before they took legal action against the creators of one of the most popular emulators for their hybrid console.
In 2018, Tropic Haze introduced Yuzu, a popular emulator for mobile and PC that allows users to play Nintendo Switch titles for free. As journalist Stephen Totilo of Axios discovered, Nintendo of America filed a lawsuit against the creators of that software.
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Nintendo sues creators of Yuzu, Nintendo Switch emulator
According to the information, Nintendo argues that the emulator allows anyone to "decrypt and illegally play virtually any Switch title without paying a penny for a Nintendo console or the game."
Additionally, the company claims that the software promotes piracy "on a colossal scale," demanding the closure of the emulator and compensation for alleged damages.
To support its arguments, Nintendo points out that one million illegal copies of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom were downloaded before the official release, as the game files started circulating on the internet from May 1, 2023 due to a leak.
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Although the creators of the Nintendo Switch emulator are not responsible for distributing pirate units on the internet, many websites hosting download links claim that the game works on Yuzu.
Additionally, Nintendo highlights that support for the emulator's Patreon doubled in the period leading up to the official release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, providing evidence that the software promotes piracy and is a profitable business for its creators.
Although emulation is technically legal, Nintendo could win the case if it proves that Yuzu has no other legitimate use and was designed solely to provide free access to games for the hybrid console, as experts highlighted to The Verge. "The key thing is that Nintendo presents the case as a claim for DMCA circumvention," emphasized lawyer Richard Hoeg.
At this moment, Nintendo has not publicly commented on this lawsuit. We will have to wait to discover the effects it will have on Tropic Haze's project and the emulation world in general.
But tell us, what do you think of this situation? Let us know in the comments.
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