Owning the hardware and the Switch emulator Ryujix are two different things, but what exactly does it mean for Nintendo to own their website domain?
A quick search on the WhoIs website shows that Nintendo now owns the domain for Ryujix, and the transfer took place on November 7, 2024. This may relate to the stories from last month that Nintendo offered the Ryujix developers an offer they couldn't refuse.
Earlier this year, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Yuzu, a Switch emulator similar to Ryujinx. Yuzu paid Nintendo $2.4 million in damages.
Pocket Pair, Palword's developer, also received a patent lawsuit from Nintendo for infringing on some mechanics in Palworld. However, Pocket Pair seems unfazed, as Palword is set to become available on more gaming platforms, including mobile.
Now, let's go back to the question at hand. Nintendo owning the Ryujinx domain only limits them on how the emulator is distributed. While it tries to halt the distribution of Ryujinx, the emulator continues to bump into some piracy issues, meaning it can still trigger Switch piracy.
Related: Nintendo’s Lawsuits and the Nemesis System - How Are They Changing the Video Game Industry?
Nintendo can do what they want with the domain, but Ryujinx is still out there as an emulator. Ryujinx is open-source and still has some activities in GitHub, with developers updating features, such as user interface tweaks and Amiibo support.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time that Nintendo has bought a website domain to prevent a product from being distributed outside its control. The company also bought the rights to a Super Mario adult film to stop its distribution.
How Nintendo dealt with the Super Mario parody is quite unorthodox but understandable. You can always count on Nintendo to find unexpected ways to deliver cease-and-desist orders and lawsuits. It's hilarious that famously family-friendly Nintendo owns an adult movie adaptation of Super Mario.
Amidst these lawsuits and their quest against emulation, Nintendo still has some big news up their sleeve as many fans await the official announcement of the Switch 2.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa recently confirmed that Switch 2 will have backward compatibility and can utilize services offered through the Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Whether emulation takes a different direction this time or continues on its current path will depend on the developers who keep Ryujinx alive. However, you can stay updated about the latest gaming news and stories by following Gfinity Esports.
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