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Nintendo sent four DMCA takedown notices to GitHub on Nov. 6 targeting the Switch emulators Yuzu and Citron Neo, as well as mod-chip firmware. GitHub removed 144 repositories containing the firmware, though TorrentFreak reported that copies appeared to remain elsewhere on the platform.
Nintendo sent four DMCA takedown notices to GitHub targeting Switch emulators Yuzu and Citron Neo, along with firmware used by mod chips. GitHub removed 144 repositories containing the targeted firmware, a move that could make those files harder to find on the service while leaving open whether copies remain available elsewhere.
The notices, dated Nov. 6, address software and firmware associated with running Nintendo Switch games outside the company’s approved system. The report says Nintendo targeted two emulators, Yuzu and Citron Neo, as well as firmware for mod chips. GitHub replaced the affected firmware repositories with DMCA takedown notices.
Mod chips such as Picofly can be soldered onto a Switch’s mainboard and flashed with firmware. According to the report, the firmware can be used to bypass Nintendo’s copy protection. Nintendo’s notice argues that its consoles and games use technological protection measures to restrict interaction to legitimate game files and to prevent piracy and unauthorized copying.
The scale of the firmware removals does not mean every copy has disappeared. TorrentFreak reported that the firmware appeared to remain hosted elsewhere on GitHub. The available reporting does not establish how many copies are still accessible or whether GitHub has taken action against those repositories.
Firmware Removals Reach 144 Repositories
The takedown affects more than the two named emulators: the 144 removed repositories contained firmware associated with mod chips, which can alter how Switch hardware operates. Removing files from a major code-hosting platform can disrupt access for people who develop, maintain or use that software, although the reported presence of other copies means the reach of the action is uncertain.
The notices also show Nintendo pursuing several kinds of Switch-related software through the same process. For readers, the distinction matters: an emulator is software that imitates a console, while mod-chip firmware is used with hardware installed in a console. Nintendo’s claims in its notice concern copyright protections and unauthorized game copies; the report does not establish a court ruling on the legality of the targeted software.
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Nintendo’s Earlier GitHub Actions
This is not Nintendo’s first attempt to use GitHub’s copyright process against Switch-related software. The report recalls a 2024 action against Yuzu, in which Nintendo targeted 12 mirrors and reportedly removed 8,500 copies. That earlier action provides context for the current emulator targets, but it does not establish the total reach or outcome of the new notices.
The report also notes that the latest notices came days after emulators were able to run a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on PC. It presents that timing as possible context for renewed attention to emulation, not as evidence that the game or its release directly prompted Nintendo’s legal action. The stated focus of the present sweep includes mod-chip firmware, a separate category from emulator software.
“The Nintendo Switch console and video games contain technological protection measures (‘TPMs’) that permit the Nintendo Switch console to interact only with legitimate Nintendo video game files.”
— Nintendo, in its Nov. 6 DMCA notice posted by GitHub
Copies and Further Notices Remain Unclear
It is not clear how many repositories containing the firmware remain on GitHub or whether the platform will remove additional copies. TorrentFreak’s report indicates that the firmware was still hosted elsewhere, but the source material does not identify the repositories or provide a count.
The available information also does not detail the precise files covered by each of Nintendo’s four notices, the status of every targeted emulator repository, or whether affected repository owners have disputed the claims. Nintendo’s legal assertions are claims in a takedown notice; the reporting does not describe a court decision resolving them. Nor is it confirmed that the recent PC emulation activity caused the notices.
Watch for Further Repository Removals
The immediate next development will be whether GitHub removes additional repositories identified by Nintendo or restores any material after a response from repository owners. The report says Nintendo may not be finished, but does not cite a company statement confirming further notices. No additional action has been announced in the source material.
For now, the confirmed outcome is narrower: GitHub removed 144 repositories containing the described mod-chip firmware, and Nintendo’s notices also targeted Yuzu and Citron Neo. Any broader estimate of the sweep’s reach will depend on information about remaining copies, further notices and the status of the emulator repositories.
Key Questions
What did Nintendo target in its GitHub notices?
Nintendo sent four DMCA notices targeting the Switch emulators Yuzu and Citron Neo and firmware associated with mod chips.
How many firmware repositories did GitHub remove?
The report says GitHub removed 144 repositories containing the targeted firmware and replaced them with DMCA notices.
Has all of the firmware disappeared from GitHub?
That is not confirmed. TorrentFreak reported that copies appeared to remain elsewhere on GitHub, but the available reporting gives no count.
Why does Nintendo say it sought the removals?
In its notice, Nintendo said Switch consoles and games use technological protection measures to restrict interaction to legitimate game files and prevent piracy and unauthorized copying. These are Nintendo’s stated claims, not a court finding reported here.
Is Nintendo planning more takedowns?
The report says further action is possible, but Nintendo has not confirmed additional notices in the source material.
Source: ign.com
