By Sagar Mankar 
Nintendo has apparently claimed ownership of the domain previously belonging to the popular Switch emulator Ryujinx. This move follows a pattern of aggressive legal actions by the gaming giant to protect its intellectual property.
What Happened to Ryujinx?
The story began in early October when a Ryujinx developer revealed through Discord that Nintendo had approached the lead developer with an agreement. The terms were clear: cease development and remove all project-related assets.
Shortly after, the project’s downloads and GitHub repositories disappeared, marking the end of one of the most prominent Switch emulators.
How Did Nintendo Acquire the Domain?
As spotted on the r/Ryujinx subreddit, then confirmed by GamesRadar, WHOIS database records show Nintendo of America as the registered owner of the Ryujinx domain following an update on November 7, 2024.
While the Ryujinx website remains inactive, this acquisition is likely a strategic step to prevent any future attempts to revive the emulator using its original domain.
Nintendo’s Broader Legal Efforts
The takeover of the Ryujinx domain is part of a wider crackdown on emulation and related projects in 2024. Below are some of the significant actions Nintendo has undertaken:
- The shutdown of Yuzu emulator, resulting in a $2.4 million settlement
- Immediate cessation of support for both Yuzu and Citra (3DS emulator)
- Legal action against streamers and leakers like EveryGameGuru
- Ongoing legal disputes, including the Palworld controversy
The closure of major emulators like Ryujinx and Yuzu signals Nintendo’s hardening stance against unauthorized software emulation. Despite claims from developers like Tropic Haze that they “were not intending to cause harm” and were “always against piracy,” Nintendo’s legal actions demonstrate zero tolerance for unauthorized emulation of their systems.
For more information, you can check the Ryujinx.org. Remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more legal news!
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