Drastic Nintendo DS Emulator Now Free

What’s going on here?

The Nintendo DS emulator Drastic has been made free by its developer Exophase on Android and is soon to be removed from the platform entirely. This decision follows the closure of the Nintendo Switch emulator Yuzu due to a lawsuit by Nintendo, which also affected the Nintendo 3DS emulator Citra. The emulation community is reacting cautiously, with actions such as shutting down emulation discussion channels on Discord servers to avoid potential legal issues. The Steam Deck’s Discord server is one such example, having closed its emulation channel with regrets. Link to article

What does this mean?

The lawsuit settlement and the subsequent reactions within the emulation community signify a major shift. With Drastic becoming free and the closure of prominent emulators like Yuzu and Citra, there is a ripple effect impacting various elements of the emulation landscape. This includes adjustments in platforms like EmuDeck, which is now looking for alternatives to Citra for its all-in-one emulation service, indicating a potentially significant reshaping of available emulation software and community support structures. This situation also underscores the legal and financial pressures emulation projects face when confronted by copyright holders like Nintendo.

Why should I care?

The repercussions from Nintendo’s legal actions against emulator projects like Yuzu affect not just the developers of these emulators but also the wider community of users and fans. If emulation channels and resources continue to shut down or change, it may become harder for enthusiasts to access and enjoy a broad range of gaming experiences, especially those related to Nintendo’s extensive catalog. This incident highlights the ongoing conflicts between copyright holders and the emulation community, raising questions about the future of game preservation and accessibility.

For more information, check out the original article here.