Tutorial
Updated
Install Dolphin (GC emulator) on Switch
Here's what the end result looks like:
I tested with Animal Crossing. It runs at about half speed at best. (If you saw this tutorial on Reddit already, I did not steal this guide. I posted it there as well.)
I'm assuming you already have Arch running on your switch with SSH and Wi-Fi working. SSH isn't needed, but it's way easier to do this with SSH. If you don't have Arch set up, look here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/quick-tuto-how-to-boot-linux-on-your-switch.501918/ I would also suggest the precompiled version of the booting tools here https://github.com/SoulCipher/shofel2_linux
Please comment if anything doesn't work as I might have forgotten something (I did most of this last night so I'm pretty much trying to remember the steps I took).
First you should have the equivalent of build-essential or base-devel for your system.
SSH into the Switch and sudo su into root. Now run
This will install Dolphin-emu's dependencies. Next, run
Which will clone Dolphin-emu's repository to your Switch. Move into the dolphin-emu directory.
Now create a folder called Build and go into it.
Configure the build
After this is completed, run
to compile Dolphin. Now run
to install Dolphin on to the Switch.
Run it by typing dolphin-emu in LXTerminal on the Switch and pressing enter. You can type by using the "Onboard" program. Press the Config button, go to the audio section, and tap where it says ALSA. Change this to disabled. Close Dolphin and go back to your ssh session. Run
and change where it says CPUCore = 1 to CPUCore = 4. This sets it to use the JIT64 DC, which is the fastest CPU interpreter for the Switch.
Now you can relaunch Dolphin and load a game!
Edit: To improve performance, try running
(Thanks, @natinusala!)
I tested with Animal Crossing. It runs at about half speed at best. (If you saw this tutorial on Reddit already, I did not steal this guide. I posted it there as well.)
I'm assuming you already have Arch running on your switch with SSH and Wi-Fi working. SSH isn't needed, but it's way easier to do this with SSH. If you don't have Arch set up, look here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/quick-tuto-how-to-boot-linux-on-your-switch.501918/ I would also suggest the precompiled version of the booting tools here https://github.com/SoulCipher/shofel2_linux
Please comment if anything doesn't work as I might have forgotten something (I did most of this last night so I'm pretty much trying to remember the steps I took).
First you should have the equivalent of build-essential or base-devel for your system.
SSH into the Switch and sudo su into root. Now run
Code:
pacman -Syu alsa-lib bluez-libs cairo enet gcc-libs gdk-pixbuf2 glib2 glibc gtk2 hidapi libevdev libpng libpulse libsm libx11 libxi libxrandr libxxf86vm lzo mbedtls pango sfml zlib cmake gitThis will install Dolphin-emu's dependencies. Next, run
Code:
git clone https://github.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin.git dolphin-emuWhich will clone Dolphin-emu's repository to your Switch. Move into the dolphin-emu directory.
Code:
cd dolphin-emuNow create a folder called Build and go into it.
Code:
mkdir Build && cd BuildConfigure the build
Code:
cmake ..After this is completed, run
Code:
make -j6to compile Dolphin. Now run
Code:
make installto install Dolphin on to the Switch.
Run it by typing dolphin-emu in LXTerminal on the Switch and pressing enter. You can type by using the "Onboard" program. Press the Config button, go to the audio section, and tap where it says ALSA. Change this to disabled. Close Dolphin and go back to your ssh session. Run
Code:
nano ~/.config/dolphin-emu/Dolphin.iniand change where it says CPUCore = 1 to CPUCore = 4. This sets it to use the JIT64 DC, which is the fastest CPU interpreter for the Switch.
Now you can relaunch Dolphin and load a game!
Edit: To improve performance, try running
Code:
echo 0a > /sys/kernel/debug/dri/0/pstate(Thanks, @natinusala!)
Last edited by LarBob,
