• Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against the makers of the Switch emulator Yuzu for allegedly circumventing technical measures preventing Switch games from running on other hardware.
  • The lawsuit accuses Yuzu of facilitating piracy by allowing users to play pirated Switch games on general-purpose computing devices.
  • Nintendo seeks compensation and a permanent injunction against Yuzu, citing irreparable harm caused by the emulator’s actions.

Nintendo claims to have the ‘strongest legal department’. According to Bloomberg, Nintendo of America Inc. has now filed a lawsuit against the makers of the Switch emulator Yuzu, accusing them of ‘illegally circumventing’ the technical measures that prevent Switch platform games from running on other hardware.

The lawsuit describes the Yuzu emulator as ‘software that allows users to run pirated video games on general-purpose computing devices,’ and these pirated video games ‘are only intended for specific game consoles.’ Meanwhile, Nintendo cited ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ as an example in the lawsuit. It alleges that the Yuzu developers obtained Switch games through hacking, violating the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).

Also read: Nintendo shares plunge on delayed Switch 2 launch

‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ could run on ‘most hardware’

Earlier, Yuzu developers announced that ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild‘ could be run at full speed on ‘most hardware’ without the need for cracking. Although Yuzu claimed to take measures to prevent piracy on its official Discord community, Nintendo still points the finger at the emulator.

‘Infringing copies of games circulating online can be played on Yuzu, and these copies have been downloaded successfully over a million times by users from pirate websites before the games are released and available for legal purchase by Nintendo. Many pirate websites specifically mention the ability to play (Switch platform) games through Yuzu,’ Nintendo said in its complaint.

The harm caused by Yuzu to the company is evident and irreparable

Nintendo states that the harm caused by Yuzu to the company is evident and irreparable, seeking compensation ‘regardless of the circumstances,’ including a permanent injunction against the emulator, surrendering the official website, and monetary damages.