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After years of speculations ever since the source code for the popular Wii U emulator, Cemu, became open source back in August 2022 with their v2.0 release, users began wondering when would Cemu become available for other devices or systems, like Linux or Android.

This week, a user by the name of XForYouX on GitHub released an unofficial port of Cemu for Android devices on September 7th, 2024, based on the initial Android port by SSimco, with promising results, albeit with some slight graphical issues. The unofficial port supports Android devices from 11 and onwards, while any device running Android 10 and below is currently unsupported.

The number of changes for this specific port is quite substantial, and from the release page on the Github repository the following changes were made over the official Cemu version:

• Implement DCBZ
• Update xbyak
• Update recompiler tests
• Update xbyak dep
• Add x64 check for ATTR_MS_ABI
• Cleanup code
• Update deprecated attribute
• Send touch events to Input manager
• Fixed gamepad volume enable/disable toggle
• Fix count cycles macro for count cycles > 4095
• Updated overlay settings
• Added options to show the gamepad & added a menu when in game
• Added option to show graphic packs for installed games only
• Fixed not being able to resize some buttons
• Added support for motion
• Updated icon
• Refactored game list code & added option to remove & add multiple game paths
• Removed unused icon
• Refactored fileutils code
• Updated android workflow to create storefile only if the secret is available

The official Cemu emulator also saw an update yesterday, with the latest version being v2.2, although there's no mention of any upcoming official Android version given how the emulator's JIT was made specifically for amd64/x86_64 machines, and the JIT would need a heavy rewrite to make it work on ARM devices.

It's still unknown whether or not the official Cemu development team would implement this specific Android port fork into their mainstream source code, although the Cemu team did release an FAQ some time ago regarding an Android port.

Unofficial Cemu Android GitHub repository
Official Cemu GitHub repository

 

[Kyokoneko]

Imagine running that on an overclocked CFW Switch with Android...

Having Xenoblade X and TLoZ Twilight Princess HD playable on Switch is a dream come true for me.

 

[ItsAshleyFTW]

Waiting for Xemu, Xenia and RPCS3...

 

[Kyokoneko]

Waiting for Xemu, Xenia and RPCS3...

You might have to wait longer though, emulation ports are no small feat.

 

[ItsAshleyFTW]

You might have to wait longer though, emulation ports are no small feat.

I agree, I think Xemu will be first because it already has native ARM support.

 

[Kyokoneko]

I agree, I think Xemu will be first because it already has native ARM support.

I heard Xemu is usable on Switch via Linux.

 

[MysticStarlight]

I wonder if BOTW will be easier to emulate on Android since it's the Wii U version?

 

[Dontuuch17]

I've personally been ignoring these releases. The team has stated nothing is really going to be official till next year.

 

[Desconocido90]

I agree, I think Xemu will be first because it already has native ARM support.

Also, they are working on a Vulkan renderer that would be useful for building an Android port... or even iOS with MoltenVK...
but They don't have plans of doing one... for now.

 

[ItsAshleyFTW]

I heard Xemu is usable on Switch via Linux.

Tbh I'd rather just get a Steam Deck or other handheld PC, I wouldn't want to risk damaging the Switch's CPU from overclocking. I believe the Switch uses the Tegra CPU which is in the Nvidia shield, which uses higher clock speeds. But I don't want to take any chances.

Post automatically merged: Sep 10, 2024

Also, they are working on a Vulkan renderer that would be useful for building an Android port... or even iOS with MoltenVK...
but They don't have plans of doing one... for now.

I'm waiting for them to add the Vulkan build to Batocera once it's official. Forza Motorsport and MechAssault 2 should be playable iirc

 

[someguy12345]

Has anyone tried Pushmo World on the Android build?

I've seen WW and TP HD run fairly decently on lower-end devices, so I'd be surprised if Pushmo didn't work. That's probably the only Wii U exclusive outside XBX that I care about.

 

[Bladexdsl]

we'll see how long it lasts

 

[ganons]

Smash bros has glitches

 

[Darksabre72]

Imagine running that on an overclocked CFW Switch with Android...

Having Xenoblade X and TLoZ Twilight Princess HD playable on Switch is a dream come true for me.

same here ngl

 

[Xdqwerty]

I thought no phone could run Wii u games

 

[Kyokoneko]

I thought no phone could run Wii u games

They can do so now, thanks to this port.

 

[urbanman2004]

A/b gyatt damn time since Cemu 2.1 Has Released.

 

[Quore]

Heavens bless the emulation

 

[DrPerkeleeee]

And it runs already pretty good! This is awesome.

 

[Axido]

A few days ago someone asked the rhetorical question "Can you play Wii U games on Switch?" over on that news thread about Switch 2 backwards compatibility.

Apparently, it won't be long until you can... though results may vary.