The 3DS slowly might be slowly but surely shuffling off its mortal coil, but it's about to get a new lease of life (kinda) in the form of a new version of the 3DS emulator Citra, which has been officially ported to Android devices.
The team behind the emulator – which is pretty much complete on PC – have been bombarded by requests for an official version for ages (an unofficial port of Citra already exists on Android). However, this new version has been a real labour of love for the team, and while it's still in beta, it's running pretty well – as you can see from the video below. It even features tilt support.
The group behind Citra are keen to stress that the app doesn't come with any games or copyrighted system files, which means it's not infringing on Nintendo's copyright. You'll also need to dump your own 3DS games to use with Citra, as it doesn't come with any. It is also pointed out that the emulator "is not affiliated, associated, authorised, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Nintendo." Just so you're sure – after all, the Japanese company has form when it comes to protecting its games.
While emulating old video games from 30 years ago still remains something of a grey area, emulating titles which are still commercially available might be a little too cheeky for some – but, as we've spoken about in the past, emulation is preservation, and given the unique nature of the 3DS hardware, we might be thankfully of such projects in a decade or so.
[source kotaku.co.uk]
Comments 72
With tilt controls, I would guess this means you can play an actually really great Mario Kart title on Android devices now!
Playing 3DS games on those new foldable phones might be nice.
I thought discussing emulation was "against the rules" /s lol
Awesome. Now I can finally play my 3DS games on the go!
...wait...
"as we've spoken about in the past, emulation is preservation,"
Yeah, you've said that before, that doesn't change the fact that there's no rule saying that everything must be preserved and therefore we must make emulators.
Most people using emulators either want backups to save their current copies or to play games they don't own.
I'm betting a very small percentage of people support emulators because pokemon sun/moon will be preserved for all time.
I’m sure that’s great for your phone’s battery life.
@Kalmaro
A lot of the time, people want emulation because it's convenient to be able to run games from all manner of historic systems on a single device, usually with remappable controls and all manner of enhancements and fixes.
This doesn't mean that it's okay to pirate the software naturally, I also prefer the practice of making backups of my own personally owned games, and using those for the purpose of enhanced emulation.
3DS emulation isn't restricted to the original 400x240 resolution, and some games look superb when played at higher resolutions like Kirby Planet Robobot.
@RupeeClock @Savino Yeah, so you two would fall into the group of people I mentioned who own the games and want to protect your stuff.
And I'm fine with that, I don't see a problem with protecting your purchases. I just don't believe too many people care about preserving games for all eternity. Most just want to olay games now and only a few of those have legitimate reasons.
Nor do I agree with this implied notion some give that "we have to preserve all games so emulation is necessary!"
No we don't, we don't have to do that at all. Emulation is nice but acting as if it's vital for human survival or a moral good just confuses me.
3DS emulator asks too much power. I don't want to damage my phone or its battery with overheat.
@mesome713 I like that you're always defending Ninty from piracy, but now you think that it's okay to play PlayStation games for free!
Still piracy though innit. It's not their stuff to preserve. That's up to the developers and publishers.
@Kalmaro No one argues its vital for human survival, you just made that up.
On another point, let's say there is a SNES game that has never been re released on any platform and the only way to play it is to pay through the nose for a second hand copy. The original developer doesn't benefit, only the person who sells it does which leads to some games costing hundreds of pounds. I'm sure the people who developed these games would rather more people play them than sitting behind a ludicrous pay wall that doesn't benefit them or the developer/publisher they worked for in any shape or form.
Another argument in my case is a lot of my favourite games I originally played on an emulator when I was a teenager hadn't been re released at the time and I couldn't afford the original system and a copy of the game . Now I'm older and have more disposable income, I've bought many of these games when they have been re released. So in effect emulation has actually led to me buying games I might not have. I don't think it is as black and white as you are saying.
Why use that when you can get the actual New 3DS-XL system instead. Also rather then burning and wasting precious phone battery one would rather use the right system since they can plug in the cart and anybody trying to ROM the software to emulator would be in direct NIN EULA/TOS and asking for trouble. So this is dead on arrival and more of a Gimmick. Android has better use then to burn battery life and worse have lack of cooling or system to handle a dedicate 3DS system made for gaming.
@WillQuan Nope, I've had people argue to me that games are art and art is vital to mankind flourishing. I can't post to the exact comment, you don't have to believe me though, that's fine.
"I'm sure the people who developed these games would rather"
Let me stop you right there, that's an assumption and you're welcome to it, that doesn't make it fact though. If a developer actually says to download their game because there's no other way to get it, that's something else. You also are not entitled to that game either so... yeah.
It's a shame you couldn't be introduced to the games legitimately as a kid, you'd be correct in saying that those emulators helped guide you to those games.
There's even more people who were led to games by word of mouth, youtube videos, other games referencing them, etc.
Nothing you've mentioned makes emulation anything different from what I said before. Mostly for people wanting to preserve their own copies or play games they don't own.
(Care to dream with me for a bit?) Nintendo is a company that should be one of the first to be about preservation and even harboring fan creations because of its rich history of games and endurance compared to other early home gaming companies.
Maybe one day we can go to a web site (not tied to Nintendo hardware) to partake in all first-party Nintendo games in a limited way to experience that history for free. It could be supported by fees to play games in their entirety and promotion for current offerings. If Nintendo could make that work, it could be a magnet that would allow it to build to an exhaustive collection.
Maybe even better, Nintendo could harbor fan creations, controlling the narrative around them — these are not official! — and help celebrate the passion fans have and making that relationship symbiotic rather than antagonistic. Yes, I mean hosting a site that collects and distributes and celebrates the work of fans that uses their IP. It could give credit to fans where it is due and point people to the official games and franchises Nintendo still sells.
Beautiful dream, no?
@mikegamer I think you can discuss it just not anything illegal as emulation itself is fully legal if you do not use any of the official bios or system files and you own the games.
That's awesome, android is a natural fit due to touch screen controls.
I do also agree that rom/iso dumping and the ability to play them on emulators is important for the preservation of art. It's in no way important to human survival as @Kalmaro says but it is for the preservation and/or documentation of our culture. Not everybody will get a kick out of that sort of thing but I do! But then again I am really interested in games especially series that span different formats over decades.
It's just important to different people. I am sure a lot of people would lose their minds if somebody drew a willy on the Mona Lisa in felt tip but I would probably laugh. Then again I am not really interested in that sort of art.
If one owns a 3DS, the actual game cart, and rips the rom themselves, that would not be a violation of copyright law, as I understand it. Or am I incorrect on this? Because, frankly, there are some games I have that I'd be delighted to migrate to mobile.
I don't see the point. 3DS's are dirty cheap lol
@ralphdibny I'd agree that games are a good way of documenting our culture. I also think that it should be up to the devs when said game is allowed to be documented.
More often than not, I see people screaming "PRESERVATION!" While taking games that still belong to someone else.
Grey area surrounding actually getting the games onto your phone, this sounds like a neat idea. However, playing 3ds games on a tiny screen instead of two larger screens might detract from the experience. Even a tablet might be pushing it. If it is android based though, fingers crossed for a Chromebook extension!
Very cool indeed! Wouldnt use it personally since most of the best 3ds games have sequels on the Switch but that is very impressive by them. Wonder what other projects theyre working on!
@mesome713 That's subjective, use a better phone
Hmmm. Recent phones do seem to stomach some Wii games on Dolphin, so if this official build is built to last, there may be hope for it. Although as with all smartphone emulation, you're still running into the proverbial problem of button shortage short of separately funded own peripherals. Granted, some 3DS games do allow to get by on touchscreen alone...
@Kalmaro I feel pretty old to have seen and remember the times when rom collectors didn't hesitate to admit they were indulging in piracy and didn't seek excuses for that. But I guess that audacity has waned once attracting and maintaining a public image online became a popular sport with younger folks... while the temptation to play free (unreleased, fantranslated, delisted etc) games hasn't. Hence the variety of eloquent justifications nowadays.
@nhSnork Well now it's popular to virtue signal. So saying "I'm helping game preservation" is more popular than saying "I'm a pirate"
And before anyone says anything, I'm not saying all people with emulators are pirates or that emulation is pirating, you know exactly who I'm talking about.
For me the whole purpose of 3DS is the 3D screen, games like Samus returns, Donkey kong, Nano assault, would not be same on a phone.
@Kalmaro what about cases where there are copyright issues preventing the game from being rereleased such as Goldeneye 007 or Sonic 3 & Knuckles? I don't think we should HAVE to rely on the developers to rerelease games because sometimes they can't even if they want to. Also I play on the actual consoles way more than I ever emulate and I like to collect the games. I still support emulation though.
@Incarta What about publishers or developers which no longer exist?
See where this is going?
I recommend Vita3K emulator. It's an amazing Sony Vita emulator.
I remember when LG actually released a phone with similar 3D display technology as used in the 3DS. So this feature could theoretically be emulated on an Android device... It deeply frustrates me that this technology hasn't been widely adopted. We managed to figure out how to do PERFECT glassless 3D displays and no one cares!
Took roughly 5-7 comments before people started arguing about the rights and wrongs of emulators. Is that a record?
Jokes aside, I've seen peeps run 3DS games in a higher resolution and they look phenomenal.
I don't get why so many people feel the need to justify their piracy now. Do it if you're going to do it, but keep it to yourself. That used to be common sense.
On the main subject, I dunno man. 3DSes are cheap and easy to come by, and they're portable, so I don't see the draw. GG for people who wanted it, though.
@HammerKirby
You can buy Sonic 3 & Knuckles for $4.99 on Steam right now and it's also available on Xbox One via Xbox 360 backwards compatibility.
It's not some rare game lost to time like Clayfighter 63 Sculptor's Cut or Little Samson.
@mesome713 I mean Citra isn't compatible with many, many games, but the ones that work work well enough. I don't get the thing about epsxe though, it's a good emulator that's been around forever, hit its no better than any other longrunning emulator. Anyway, functionalitywise Dolphin and PPSSPP are way better than epsxe. Dolphin especially. That thing is crazy how much work went into it.
@HammerKirby It's their game, they can do what they want with it. If they can't sell it for some reason then that's unfortunate, we aren't entitled to play the game though.
@RPGamer Everytime I think of Android, I think of them cheap Chinese phones that love using it. Those phones are pure trash.
If it ends up working fine after some while, great. Haven't used my 3ds in a while let alone buy games for it. Hope to try some games I've been interested in, but never got around to buying, assuming itll even work of course
@Kalmaro I didn't say we were entitled to play the game. But I just want new generations to be able to experience the games that defined generations without having to go after the old consoles which most of them are never going to do thanks to Nintendo and other companies devaluing old games with stuff like Virtual Console.
@Toy_Link yeah Ik I was just thinking of some examples. 360 version sucks though. Steam version is fine but not everyone has access to Steam.
I tried to set Citra up on PC, it isn't worth it....download this, download that....download this to download that....
Ugh, screw it, from what I heard MH4U runs like crap on the emulator anyways.
@HammerKirby Yeah, I'd like that too. If there's no legal way for them to do that though then that's all there is to it.
You'd just have to ask yourself if you care about the laws guarding the games or not.
@AshenLion this guy gets it.
As for piracy, the only way I ever managed to get a hold on Xenoblade Chronicles was to pirate it, my wii could no longer read discs so that's what I had to resort to. Now that I'm older and actually have an income, I will happily buy the remaster.
So another way for people to steal games.
@SwitchForce if does not matter if you play temple run or a 3ds emulator or even if you don't use the phone at all. Your battery will still die. Also a new 3ds (in europe) costs around 190-200 euro. You can better use that money to save that up for a phone I guess.
Not that I'm saying that you SHOULD use it but you would not waste it.
Can't we get the decent titles on the Switch? Ocarina 3D, Mario Land 3D, Dream Team Bros etc.
@Damo Fair point. IPs do get picked up by new owners, but there's bound to be some that don't and would be fair game for Freeware endeavors. But there's a bit of a difference between that and emulating games that are still being sold by the owner.
citra can barely run the games I want it to run as it is, the devs put all their priority into the pokémon games
The 3 times I pirate games are when:
I play my 3DS games with ORIGINAL cartridge and machines.
I have three 3DS machines (1 Old 3DS XL USA, 1 New 3DS XL USA, 1 New 3DS LL Japan) and want to add 3DS PAL version since i have two 3DS PAL games right now.
I know Region locking is suck, but i will not support the piracy and using emulator on other devices.
3DS was my first machine i start to play with ORIGINAL things.
I would rather have multiple of different 3DS machines rather than using Citra emulator and play them on smartphones.
No Way !
Lol funny how people say old games ain't available that's funny old games are all over the internet to buy.lol
So theoretically a hacked SW running dual boot with android can now take all their 3ds games with them with one handheld.
Id gladly snag a game on __ and play games for free on pc with enhanced visuals and sometimes 60fps. Played Thousand Year Door for the first time with a HD texture pack, it was awesome.
Hold on. The app which is an emulator of a platform that does not belong to them cannot play the games without illegal ROMs. So exactly, how does that not make the app itself illegal? Am I missing something? And if I am correct then what does that say for NintendoLife itself advertizing illegal practices?
Are android devices so strong that can emulate 3ds games? Good luck trying to run Resident Evil Revelations. From the videos i've seen its a lag fest with terrible sound. Maybe in some years
@Cosats the emulator should not use any existing code similar to the 3ds. Its very easy to tell if it is taken from the original source code and make an argument for litigation. Also there is a dock that will backup your 3ds library.
@codyf If the purpose of an app is to immitate someone else's platform in order to play games that legaly do not exist on mobile phones, what does the use of non existing code achieve. Isn't this an obvious masquerade? Like manufacturing a Mercedes car that looks identical to the real thing but made from different components? Wouldn't that be illegal again?
I have no problem with it, when you actually own the game. But all too often do people just go to pirate bay or whatever and download an entire library of games and call it a day.
If you have a PCVR headset with a copy of Bigscreen along with Citra running on your PC, you can play 3DS games on a giant virtual cinema screen in you own private virtual cinema in stereoscopic 3D--and it's pretty frikin' sweet!
@mesome713 There are better PS1 emulators than ePSXe, namely Mednafen.
I love it when this site who is against piracy promotes...piracy! Mind blown!!
Isn't it illegal...?
@RazumikhinPG Maybe in 20-30 years time when you can't find a 3DS in working condition at a decent price. Better to start now than wait later.
@RodSD64 Emulators have always try to do things by the book. Look up Sony vs Bleem. Sony lost but Bleem closed down because of the legal fees. As long as emulators use a clean room implementation by reverse engineering the device without any help from official documentation from the console manufacturers, they are perfectly legal.
@Leo626 feels pointless to play the 3DS on a smartphone without any physical buttons, meh.
@SlimPieEats You don't even need to dual boot android. It should be able to run natively on a hacked Switch.
https://twitter.com/m4xwdev/status/1264885041345318912?s=20
@RazumikhinPG Then get one of those mountable controllers. Citra supports them. There are a lot of them out there like iPega. Also there are those dedicated gaming android devices like the GPD XD or MOQI I7S. You don't have to play on phones but it's what most people carry around.
@Leo626 if you have to add an external peripheral to your phone, might as well grab an actual 3DS.
I do see the point on the android handheld consoles tho, but if I didn't have a 3DS and wanted to play right now I honestly would just buy one off eBay and that's it.
@RazumikhinPG Yes for now. I still prefer playing on my 3DS. Citra still isn't 100% perfect but it's almost feature complete. In the future when 3DS hardware start to fail and become scarce is when this will shine.
They're just getting a head start now rather than waiting later. Android support is something fans constantly pester the developers about so they are probably more relieved now that it's out of the way.
Well I dont know how to dump my games so this sucks...
@Mijzelffan Maybe because your PC is bad. Runs full speed on my 6 year old PC. Also lol at "devs put all their priority into the pokémon games". There was a time when people said the devs hated and didn't want it in Citra and now it almost flawlessly.
@Cosats well emulation is not illegal so....idk what to tell ya. It doesnt use any copyrighted code, doesnt have the same name so whats the problem? Also a lot of people from less fortunate countries got into game development via piracy or emulation. So bringing up legal or immoral arguments against this kind of stuff is really just exposing ones privilege. Im not saying you are. Im just using the example for sake of argument.
@Leo626 my pc probably has better specs than yours then considering I renewed all my parts last year. And I'm saying the games I want to run, not whatever normie games you're playing. Dai Gyakuten Saiban for instance runs like ***** unless you get a very specific older build, after which it still runs like ***** whenever a high-polygon character like Watson is on screen.
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