Yuzu (emulator) facts for kids
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| Developer(s) | Team Yuzu |
|---|---|
| Initial release | January 14, 2018 |
| Written in | C++ |
| Operating system | Windows, Linux, macOS (unofficial) |
| License | GNU GPLv2 |
| CPU | Minimum: Intel i3-6100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 Recommended: Intel i5-8600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
|---|---|
| Memory | Minimum: 8GB RAM Recommended: 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | Minimum: OpenGL 4.5 support or Vulkan 1.1 such as an Intel HD Graphics 530 or Nvidia GeForce GT 710 Recommended: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 470 8GB |
Yuzu, also known as yuzu, is a special computer program. It lets you play Nintendo Switch games on your computer. This type of program is called an emulator. Yuzu is also a free and open-source program. This means anyone can use it for free and even look at how it's made.
Yuzu was first announced on January 14, 2018. This was about 10 months after the Nintendo Switch console came out. The program is built using a computer language called C++.
The people who made Yuzu also created another popular emulator. That one is for the Nintendo 3DS console, called Citra. Both Yuzu and Citra share a lot of the same computer code. When Yuzu first started, it could only run simple test programs. It also supported games made by fans, called homebrew. By July 2019, some real Nintendo Switch games started working well on Yuzu. You can find a list of games that work on Yuzu's official website. This list is updated regularly.
Contents
How Yuzu Works: Key Features
Yuzu has some cool features that help it act like a Nintendo Switch.
Playing Games: Online Connections
Yuzu uses its own online system called Boxcat. This system works instead of Nintendo's own online service. It helps the emulator handle game content that changes over time.
Visuals: Changing Game Resolution
Yuzu lets you change how clear the game looks. You can set the game to look like it's playing on a TV (docked mode). Or, you can make it look like it's playing on the handheld Switch screen (undocked mode). You can even make the game look even clearer than either of those options!
Graphics: Using Vulkan Renderer
In December 2019, Yuzu added a new way to draw graphics. This is called a Vulkan renderer. It was first available in a special early version of the program. By April 2020, this Vulkan renderer became very important for Yuzu on macOS computers. This is because Apple, the company that makes macOS, prefers Vulkan over an older graphics system called OpenGL.
Performance: Multi-Core CPU Support
On May 9, 2020, the Yuzu team announced an exciting update. They added a new feature that helps the emulator use more of your computer's power. This is called experimental multi-core CPU emulation. It means Yuzu can use several parts of your computer's main processor at once. This helps games run smoother and faster.
Related Information
See also
In Spanish: Yuzu (emulador) para niños
