Nintendo Switch 2 emulation reaches PC faster than anyone anticipated

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available for barely 16 months, yet its emulation scene is already developing at an impressive pace. Just days after the first console jailbreak surfaced, developers have released an early build of Eden-NX2, bringing experimental Switch 2 emulation to Windows PCs. Interestingly, some Switch 2 titles had already been demonstrated running on iPhones and Android devices, an unusual reversal of the typical trend in which PC emulation leads the way.

The experimental release was published on October 29 by a developer known as Takoroka through the Eden project's Git server. Described as an early attempt to integrate Switch 2 support into Eden, the build comes with plenty of caveats and still needs significant work. For now, it is available exclusively for Windows 10 and 11 systems, with a 64-bit operating system, a Vulkan-compatible GPU with at least 8GB of VRAM, and 16GB of system memory required.

Despite its unfinished state, Eden-NX2 has already demonstrated that it can do more than simply launch Switch 2 games. Early footage shows titles running at higher resolutions and frame rates, although performance remains inconsistent.

One particularly eye-catching demonstration featured Mario Kart World running through the emulator. The footage was shared by Centro LEAKS on X and quickly attracted more than 11 million views, making it increasingly likely that Nintendo will take notice of the project.

However, the impressive clips don't tell the whole story. According to DSOGaming, Mario Kart World is playable but suffers from frequent stuttering, slow performance, and graphical glitches. Donkey Kong Bananza also runs, although it currently cannot maintain 60 FPS. Takoroka's release notes point to missing meshes caused by shaders that have yet to be implemented, accounting for some of the visual problems.

Eden-NX2 is also distributed without any games, meaning users must supply their own titles. The emulator itself is relatively small at around 34MB, but its arrival marks another significant step for the community. Eden is built on the foundations of Yuzu, the original Switch emulator whose development ended in 2024 after Nintendo took its creators to court.

As always, for the latest news on Nintendo Switch 2, console features, gaming hardware updates, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated gaming and hardware coverage.