Supposed Nintendo Switch Emulators Have Drawn the Attention of the Federal Trade Commission
Posted on April 19 2017 by Darrin W. Harr
Emulation is an aspect of gaming which is considered a legal gray area. It’s mostly illegal, yet it is incredibly easy to achieve. It’s basically entry level piracy, and I’m sure many gamers would love to have a Nintendo Switch emulator working on their PC. Currently there is no such thing as a Switch emulator, but there are fake ones out there.
The Federal Trade Commission has stepped in and offered a statement regarding these fake emulators, as well as the dangers they pose. Here is an excerpt from their blog post.
“If you can’t get your hands on a Nintendo Switch gaming system, you may think an emulator is the next best thing. Think again. Online ads for emulators, sometimes with Nintendo branding, say they can run Switch’s games on your desktop. But there is no legit Nintendo Switch emulator. It’s a scam.” — Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, FTC
Fake Switch emulators can install unwanted software to your PC, which can wreak havoc in different ways. Some websites offer surveys claiming to reward you with a download after the survey is complete, requiring gamers to give them personal information. Victims of such scams can report them to the FTC here. The only way Switch games are playable is on the Switch itself—the legitimate way.
Source: Federal Trade Commission
