Nintendo Files DMCA Takedown Blocking Steam Release Of Dolphin Emulator

Nintendo has filed a DMCA takedown against the popular Dolphin Emulator, blocking its attempt to launch on Steam.

For those who may not be aware, Dolphin is an emulator most well known for allowing Gamecube and Wii games to be played on PCs. For many, it is the only way to enjoy Nintendo’s Gamecube and Wii catalogue, as these consoles have been long discontinued and Nintendo has yet to provide means to play their games in an official capacity. The emulator was announced to be heading to Steam in March 2023, and would have allowed it to become much more accessible to the general public unfamiliar with emulation.

However, earlier this week, Nintendo filed a cease and desist order against Dolphin’s Steam page, citing a DMCA. This led to the team announcing that the planned Steam release was now ” indefinitely postponed” while they explored potential options. Presumably, the Steam release will not be able to proceed until this matter is settled.

It is speculated that Nintendo took this action as an indirect response to the leak of The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, cracking down even harder on emulation as a potential source of piracy. Although Nintendo is more or less in their rights to do so, this action will likely only add to the growing friction between them and their fans, who only wish to have some method of enjoying past titles in any capacity.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.