Opening Nintendo Museum has generated a lot of emotions among the company's followers, but it has also brought with it a rather unexpected controversy. And it is that after seeing how Nintendo has shown itself against the use of emulators and seeing how it has taken quite serious and forceful legal actions against developers of this type of software, it seems that they have discovered that the official museum of the brand is using this type of software solutions in its facilities.
The museum, located in the former Uji Ogura plant in Kyoto, Japan, offers an immersive experience that looks back at the company's 135-year history. Recently opened, visitors have been able to see exhibits ranging from classic Hanafuda cards to iconic video games that have marked generations, and that's where the surprise comes in.
Emulators at the Nintendo Museum
Among the most talked about news, it has been discovered that some of the retro titles played in the museum's exhibits are running under emulation on a Windows PC. This has been detected by several visitors who noticed details such as the characteristic disconnection sound of Windows when a Super Nintendo controller disconnected while playing. Super Mario WorldThis small but significant detail has raised all kinds of comments among fans.
Despite only circumstantial evidence, rumors have been quick to spread. Many speculate that, due to the inability to use certain pieces of original hardware, Nintendo may be turning to proprietary emulators or even open source software to keep its games functional inside the museum. This discovery has clashed with the company's past legal actions against the development and distribution of emulators, which has caused much criticism among die-hard fans.
Emulation yes or emulation no
Nintendo has always taken a firm stance against emulation, even going so far as to sue the developers of the popular emulator Yuzu and their counterparts of RyūjinxIn those cases, the company claimed that these programs facilitated unauthorized access to its titles, leading to severe financial penalties and the removal of the projects from the website. However, the possibility that they may be using emulators in their own museum has been seen as a contradiction.
@BobWulff pic.twitter.com/6HjWqN4DRH
— Chris (@ChrisMack32) October 14, 2024
The use of these emulators appears to be reserved exclusively for exhibits within the museum, and there is no evidence that Nintendo has any plans to release this type of software to the public. However, the dilemma of prosecuting those who create emulators to keep retro gaming alive, while at the same time possibly using those same tools in its own museum, has caused outrage in some sectors of the gaming community.
Souvenirs and merchandising at the Nintendo Museum
Aside from the controversy, the museum has also surprised fans with a wide range of merchandising products exclusive. In his store, called Internship bonuses, you can find everything from T-shirts and mugs to giant cushions in the shape of Nintendo controllers. However, the sale of some of these items has been limited to avoid speculation in the second-hand market, which has caused many products to quickly disappear online, being resold at exorbitant prices.
Mercari, a popular online resale platform in Japan, is already full of museum merchandise. Some of the most sought-after items, such as Wiimote-shaped pillows, have fetched prices of up to $215. To prevent such situations, the museum has chosen to impose restrictions on the amount of products that each visitor can purchase.
No more museums for the moment
Despite the initial success of the Nintendo Museum and the interest of fans around the world, Nintendo has stated that it has no plans to open more museums in other regions.. For now, the Kyoto museum will remain the only place where these exhibits and interactive experiences can be enjoyed. Highlights include: eight interactive experiences, where visitors can relive some of the company's oldest games, such as the Ultra Machine, a baseball pitching machine created in the 60s.
For those who don't have the opportunity to travel to Japan, there are video tours of the museum that offer a complete overview of the facilities. These videos allow gamers and the curious to see the areas dedicated to Nintendo's most classic consoles and some of the most iconic objects in the history of video games.
The future of emulation on Nintendo
Despite the controversy surrounding the museum's use of emulators, it has not been officially confirmed whether Nintendo is using emulators developed in-house or has adapted third-party software. What is clear is that preserving retro content is a key issue for the company, and we may see more efforts to keep its classic games playable in the future, whether on new platforms or at special events like this museum.
On the other hand, emulators remain a recurring issue for Nintendo, which has started several legal battles against emulation software developers. From the lawsuit against Ryujinx to the liquidation of Yuzu, recent cases show a growing concern about controlling how its gaming legacy is accessed. In any case, the Nintendo Museum has received a mixed reception upon its opening, with visitors fascinated by the nostalgia of retro games and exclusive products, but also with much of the gaming community divided over the use of emulators within the museum. And there are reasons to be angry.