Summary
It looks like some people are already playingMario & Luigi: Brothershipon PC, despite the fact that the game hasn’t released yet.
While these screenshots could be fakes, gameplay clips have surfaced of players allegedly using the discontinued Ryujinx emulator which look so far to be genuine. In that case, we can expect to see more information and footage leak online in the build up to release, so be careful out there if you want to avoid spoilers (in so much as you can spoil a Mario game).
Nintendo Has Been Cracking Down On Switch Emulators Lately
Ryujinx ceased development last month after being “contacted by Nintendo and offered an agreement to stop working on the project”.
Given that news broke in February thatNintendo was suing the developers behind Yuzuafter it was used to playThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomon PC ahead of launch, you can hardly blame Ryujinx for taking the deal.
Last year,emulator Skyline likewise shut downafter being confronted with a DMCA notice from Nintendo.
Despite all these takedowns, games are still leaking far in advance of their official release. We’ve seen this since the Switch launched withBreath of the Wild, and itcontinued throughout its lifespan with games like Metroid Dread, and even as we approach the end of its life cycle, it’s happening with titles like Mario & Luigi: Brothership.
There are a couple key reasons why Nintendo would want to crack down on emulation. First is the piracy of its flagship first-party releases ahead of launch, an obvious problem, but second is thatthe Switch 2 appears to be backwards compatible(going by the recent Game Freak hack), as it allegedly uses the same ROM format. In that case, emulating the Switch 2 will be a lot less work, and we could see similar stories break almost immediately when it launches next year.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
WHERE TO PLAY
All hands on deck for an island-hopping adventure starring Mario and LuigiThe brothers return for a brand-new adventure on the high seas! Set sail with Mario and Luigi on Shipshape Island (part ship, part island) and journey through the vast world of Concordia. Launch out of Shipshape’s cannon to visit, explore, and quest your way through islands that range from tropical rainforests to bustling cities. Meet new friends along the way, like Connie and Snoutlet (definitely not a pig), and encounter familiar faces from the Mushroom Kingdom like Peach and Bowser, who may help—or hinder—you on your journey!You’ll have to rely on Mario and Luigi’s brotherly bond to succeed. Use Bros. Moves to get past obstacles while you explore, and powerful Bros. Attacks in a dynamic twist on turn-based combat. You’ll need every edge this “brothership” will give you to save the day!
