A new open-source project called nxnative has achieved a technical breakthrough that allows Nintendo Switch games to run as "native applications" directly on iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. Unlike traditional emulators that attempt to mimic the device environment through intermediate software layers, this project converts the original game code to run directly on Apple chips, making the game appear like any regular application on the phone screen.
Architectural compatibility: The secret to high performance
This development relies on the deep architectural compatibility between the devices; both platforms (Nintendo Switch and modern Apple devices) rely on processors with the Arm architecture. This means that the game code is already compatible with iPhone processors, eliminating the need for complex code translation as happens when running games on traditional computers that rely on the x86 architecture.
Technically, it requires replacing Nintendo-specific components with a host program that acts as a substitute for the platform's operating system, in addition to converting graphics from Nintendo's proprietary interface to the Metal API supported by Apple, which ensures that hardware capabilities are utilized with maximum possible efficiency.
What changes in practice?
This development represents a shift from the concept of "emulation" to the concept of "native execution." This shift means higher energy efficiency and stronger performance, because the processor does not expend effort translating software commands. Experiments have shown amazing capabilities, with more than 60 games tested, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Metroid Dread. Interestingly, it is possible to increase the frame rate in games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom from 30 frames per second on the original platform to 60 frames on Apple devices.
Technical requirements and limitations
Despite the technical power of the project, the setup process requires technical skills and specific hardware, as the limitations include the following:
- Required hardware: The project only works on iPhone 15 Pro or later, or iPad devices equipped with M1 processors or later, with the necessity of running iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 (according to the source).
- Build process: It requires using a Mac equipped with Xcode to execute the build script, and the first process may take up to a full hour.
- Installation: The resulting applications must be installed via "sideloading" methods such as AltStore or Sideloadly.
- Missing features: The project does not currently support online play features or amiibo technical functions.
Legally, the project developers emphasize that nxnative does not distribute any game data, but relies entirely on files and keys that the user owns from their own device, which places it in a different technical zone than emulators that have faced legal prosecution from Nintendo such as Yuzu.