Nintendo's aggressive stance against emulation and piracy is well-documented. Recent legal actions highlight this, including the $2.4 million settlement with Yuzu emulator developers in March 2024, the cessation of Ryujinx development in October 2024 following Nintendo's intervention, and the legal advice preventing a full Steam release of the Dolphin emulator in 2023 due to Nintendo's pressure. The infamous 2023 case against Gary Bowser, who sold devices circumventing Nintendo Switch anti-piracy measures, resulted in a $14.5 million debt.
A Nintendo patent attorney, Koji Nishiura, recently shed light on the company's strategy at Tokyo eSports Festa 2025. While emulators aren't inherently illegal, Nishiura clarified that their use can become illegal under certain circumstances. Specifically, emulators that copy game programs or disable console security measures may infringe on copyright laws. This is primarily based on Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act (UCPA), limiting Nintendo's international legal reach.
The presentation used the Nintendo DS "R4" card as an example. This device allowed users to play pirated games, leading to a successful UCPA lawsuit against its manufacturers and resellers, effectively banning its sales in 2009. Nishiura also emphasized that tools facilitating pirated software downloads within emulators, such as the 3DS "Freeshop" or the Switch "Tinfoil" app, also violate copyright laws.
Nintendo's lawsuit against Yuzu highlighted the alleged one million pirated copies of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, citing the emulator's Patreon page, which generated $30,000 monthly through premium features. This underscores Nintendo's focus on combating both emulation and the distribution of pirated games.
