RetroDECK Discontinues Switch Emulation Support After Nintendo DMCA Strikes

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There are two fantastic options when setting up emulation on the Steam Deck, and one of them is RetroDECK. This is an easy-to-use package that can be downloaded from the Discover Store and contains all the emulators and engines you could ever need for retro gaming. However, there have been a lot of developments in the emulation space, and one of them has made its way to RetroDECK.

Recently, Nintendo has issued DMCA strikes against the multitude of Nintendo Switch emulators that exist after Yuzu was brought down. In response to this, RetroDECK has made the stance that they will no longer be supporting Switch emulation. This was announced via their Discord, where they double down that there will no longer be any Switch emulators supported within RetroDECK, and any discussions of it will no longer be allowed:

After waiting a full year before introducing any support for Switch emulators, in order to determine whether such projects would continue to exist, we made the decision to add limited support for Ryubing in 0.10.0b. In light of recent developments, it has become clear that this was not the right course of action.

Switch emulation has consistently been the source of the most issues within the project, generating the highest volume of warnings, bans, toxicity, and support tickets.

We would also like to note that the DMCA status of these emulators creates a level of legal exposure and implied responsibility that we are neither willing nor able to assume. RetroDECK is a volunteer-driven project, and we will not place the team or the broader community at risk by maintaining features that could subject us to takedowns, legal threats, or compliance burdens beyond our scope.

Accordingly, in an upcoming minor update, all Switch emulation support will be permanently removed from RetroDECK forever.

Furthermore, discussion of Switch emulation will no longer be permitted on any of our social platforms effective immediately, and our community rules will be updated to reflect this change.

Users who still wish to use Switch emulation will need to configure and integrate it manually on their own, or move it from an old install as a user-made component mod without any support. Please note that your existing games and save data will not be touched or removed. However, you will no longer be able to launch or play them within RetroDECK natively.

Lazorne - RetroDECK Discord

While it is a little bit of a shame to see support going away, it does make sense. The team doesn't want to be caught in the crosshairs of Nintendo's strikes, and with how contentious the scene has been within the RetroDECK community, it makes sense why they would want to move away from supporting it. This is a permanent decision as well, so we won't be seeing any return, no matter what happens in the future.

If you still want to emulate Switch games, you can download emulators independently and set them up manually, but they won't be available in RetroDECK natively moving forward.

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