Just over a week ago, Nintendo sued the developers of the leading Nintendo Switch emulator, Yuzu, for “facilitating piracy at a colossal scale.” Now, it appears that Yuzu will give up without a fight — and give Nintendo everything it wanted. And it affects the Nintendo 3DS emulator Citra, too.
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Nintendo Switch emulator Yuzu will utterly fold and pay $2.4M to settle its lawsuit
The emulator was sued for ‘facilitating piracy at a colossal scale.’
According to a joint filing, Tropic Haze has not only agreed to pay $2,400,000 to Nintendo but also says Yuzu is “primarily designed to circumvent and play Nintendo Switch games.” The company agrees to be permanently enjoined from working on Yuzu, hosting Yuzu, distributing Yuzu’s code or features, hosting websites and social media that promote Yuzu, or doing anything else that circumvents Nintendo’s copyright protection.
Oh, and it will surrender the yuzu-emu.org domain name to Nintendo, agree to delete not only its copies of Yuzu but also “all circumvention tools used for developing or using Yuzu—such as TegraRcmGUI, Hekate, Atmosphère, Lockpick_RCM, NDDumpTool, nxDumpFuse, and TegraExplorer,” and hand over any “physical circumvention devices” and “modified Nintendo hardware” to Nintendo. It also agrees to not delete any other “evidence” that infringes Nintendo’s IP rights.
Yuzu and Citra developer Bunnei confirmed in the Yuzu discord that both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS emulators are affected. “We write today to inform you that yuzu and yuzu’s support of Citra are being discontinued, effective immediately,” it begins:
You can read through the entirety of the proposed final judgment and permanent injunction at the bottom of this story; Judge John J. McConnell signed them, with zero changes (pdf), on Wednesday March 6th. But on Monday, the source code for Yuzu and Citra had both already been pulled down from GitHub, and their websites were replaced with a copy of Bunnei’s message.
It’s not yet clear if this is the literal end of Yuzu or Citra, since copies of both emulators and their source code are in the wild. Some online supporters specifically mentioned backing up the Yuzu code after Nintendo sued two weeks ago.
I’m also not clear on whether this result could impact other emulators beyond Yuzu and Citra. If Yuzu had fought this lawsuit in court, one of the biggest questions would have been whether Yuzu is actually circumventing Nintendo’s protections since the emulator itself does not contain Nintendo’s keys. (Yuzu is a “bring-your-own-BIOS” emulator.) But now, Nintendo and Tropic Haze are asking a judge to specifically find that Yuzu circumvents its copyright protections by using those keys, even if it doesn’t come with them.
They are asking a federal judge to say yes to this, specifically:
Developing or distributing software, including Yuzu, that in its ordinary course functions only when cryptographic keys are integrated without authorization, violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s prohibition on trafficking in devices that circumvent effective technological measures, because the software is primarily designed for the purpose of circumventing technological measures.
But although Nintendo is making an example out of Yuzu, one that might create a chilling effect, it shouldn’t create a legal precedent. “Good news is that settlements are not legal determinations even with court sign off so they are not legally precedential,” Richard Hoeg, a business attorney who hosts the Virtual Legality podcast, tells The Verge.
Hoeg suspects Yuzu settled because Nintendo at least gave them a cap on their liability. “It’s a lot of money, but it’s a known amount, and I suspect the advice they were getting was that their exposure was high and they had a good chance to lose after paying lawyers for a long time.”
Update, 2:30PM ET: Added Bunnei’s confirmation in the Yuzu discord, and their full memo.
Update, 2:49PM ET: Added that Yuzu’s GitHub source code has been pulled down.
Update, 3:47PM ET: Added that Citra’s GitHub source code has been pulled down.
Update, 6:35PM ET: Added comment from Richard Hoeg.
Update, March 6th, 4:15PM ET: Added that the settlement has been approved by a judge, with no changes.
Source: theverge.com
More info: theverge.com
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iGX and Optimove Announce Report on the Transformative Impact of Gamification and AI in the iGaming Industry
iGX, a leading voice in the iGaming industry, and Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing platform for iGaming and sports betting operators, announce the release of a report exploring the transformative role of gamification and Generative AI (Gen AI) in the iGaming industry. This comprehensive study highlights the trends, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of iGaming, providing valuable insights for operators navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.
Methodology:
iGX Insights surveyed 100 Heads of Marketing, CMOs, Brand Directors, and similar executives from iGaming organizations across Europe to find out how the industry is continuing its gamification efforts and the impact AI is having on iGaming.
Key Findings Previewed
The forthcoming report reveals critical insights into how gamification and AI are revolutionizing player engagement, retention, and overall gaming experiences:
- Gamification’s Universal Adoption: The report highlights that 100% of surveyed iGaming operators have implemented gamification strategies, underscoring its universal adoption. Popular elements such as achievements, tournaments, and personalized challenges have proven effective in driving player activity and loyalty.
- Generative AI’s Growing Role: With 61% of operators already deploying Gen AI solutions and 39% planning to do so, AI is reshaping iGaming. Applications such as personalized promotions, automated content creation, and predictive analytics are driving hyper-personalization and streamlining operations.
- Data-Driven Personalization: The study emphasizes the increasing importance of player data in tailoring experiences. Organizations that leverage data insights effectively can deliver highly targeted content, predict player behavior, and optimize engagement strategies.
Industry Implications
The report positions gamification and AI as pivotal to the future of iGaming, enabling operators to deliver immersive, personalized experiences. By integrating these technologies, organizations can foster deeper player loyalty, enhance lifetime value, and remain competitive in a dynamic market. However, the study also addresses the challenges of data analytics and ethical use, which will be critical for sustained success.
As noted by Pini Yakuel, CEO of Optimove, “Gamification and Generative AI are no longer optional strategies—they are essential for operators looking to thrive in today’s competitive iGaming landscape. This report provides a roadmap for leveraging these tools to enhance player engagement and deliver meaningful, data-driven experiences.”
Added Gabriela Martins da Silva, Content Director iGX, “It’s important to note that implementing Generative AI solutions successfully also requires a strong data foundation. Any gaps in data can lead to inaccurate results, introducing potential risks when deploying these technologies. That said, it’s clear that AI is poised to become a cornerstone of the gaming industry, and the number of companies leveraging Generative AI will only increase in the coming years.”
The post iGX and Optimove Announce Report on the Transformative Impact of Gamification and AI in the iGaming Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Reign of Titans Launches in India, Bringing New Opportunities for Esports Players
Reign of Titans has officially arrived in the Google Play Store and IOS’s App Store. The strategy card-based online PvP battle game, is removing barriers for upcoming esports stars with a free-to-play model, low technical requirements, and global competitions.
“Reign of Titans is here to make an impact in India,” said Adi Abili, Head of Reign of Titans. “We’ve spent considerable time and effort to deliver the best version of our game, one that’s fun for everyone and offers a new opportunity for players looking to make a name for themselves in esports.”
The Reign of Titans game transports players to the World of Ereo – a mystical and fascinating place bound together by the forces of Chaos and Order. Players, or “Kyoks” as they’re referred to in the game, begin by choosing a Titan from one of eight unique elements, building their deck of scrolls, and then heading into the Arena.
In these real-time 1v1 matches, players need to effectively manage their Titan’s energy, or “Mana” and HP while inflicting damage through the strategic selection of scrolls. Victory can be achieved in two ways – depleting the opponent’s HP completely or making them run out of scrolls.
Reign of Titans is not new to India. The team behind the game brought beta versions to colleges, gaming cafes, and top esports athletes in 2024, in the hopes of understanding how to best appeal to gamers in the region. The game’s low system requirements make it easy for anyone to climb the global leaderboards and have a shot at becoming an esports player.
Players can head over to the Google Play Store or App Store to download the Reign of Titans app, get their first Titan, and refine their skills. New sign-ups will get an exciting “Welcome Loot Box”, giving players a head-start in crafting their Titan’s strategy.
Players in India can visit the official Instagram to see upcoming events where they can experience Reign of Titans live. The game will continue its activations across different colleges and cities of the country.
The post Reign of Titans Launches in India, Bringing New Opportunities for Esports Players appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Shaping the Future of Esports: ICE Esports Arena provides essential insights
The ICE Esports Arena at ICE Barcelona 2025 plays a key role in educating people about esports and how to access, integrate and regulate this growing vertical, says Clarion Gaming’s leader in Emerging Technology and Esports.
“Part of the role of the Esports Arena and The Esports and Games Conference is explaining exactly what esports is,” said Will Harding. “There is still work to be done in helping regulators to better understand esports. That’s why showcasing esports here at ICE is so important – we’re empowering people who are at the forefront of shaping regulatory policy.”
The ICE Esports Arena continues to grow year-on-year, with four world-ranked professional Counter-Strike 2 teams competing live at ICE 2025 for a US$25,000 prize pool. This year’s winners were 500 (Bulgaria: World ranking: 47).
“In terms of attendees, we have a whole spectrum of people here, from those that are still shocked that computer games have anything to do with sports betting to those that have built incredible businesses around esports,” Harding continued.
“There are also a number of visitors who realise that esports is significant for their business in terms of revenue but don’t necessarily know how to access this vertical, and we’re here to guide them toward unlocking its full potential.
“But the one thing which is absolutely certain is that esports betting is here to stay and it’s going to continue to grow”
He also praised headline partners, esports betting experts Oddin.gg, for their contribution in helping explain why esports is such a commercially important vertical for operators.
“Oddin.gg has been an excellent partner in realising the Esports Arena. Holding a professional esports tournament is a big endeavour. As our headline sponsor, Oddin.gg has played a key role in showcasing how the data and the odds work. They have helped complete the education journey,” he affirmed.
Commenting on ICE’s move to Barcelona, Harding highlighted that both the city and the show’s new venue Fira Barcelona Gran Via have extensive experience with esports, providing a perfect location for the ICE Esports Arena’s continuing expansion.
“It’s very established here. You can walk around Barcelona and see large-scale internet cafes catering for esports fans,” he added. “This represents an ideal foundation for the continued growth of the Esports Arena and The Esports and Games Conference in the years ahead.”
The post Shaping the Future of Esports: ICE Esports Arena provides essential insights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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