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Yuzu

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Yuzu is a Nintendo Switch emulator.

Website: https://yuzu-emu.org/

Github: https://github.com/yuzu-emu/yuzu-mainline

Github Releases: https://github.com/yuzu-emu/yuzu-mainline/releases

Compatibility List: https://yuzu-emu.org/game/

Quickstart guide: https://yuzu-emu.org/help/quickstart/

Yuzu Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started with Yuzu

  2. Common Issues

  3. Yuzu Tips and Tricks

Getting Started with Yuzu

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In order to play Nintendo Switch games on Yuzu, you will need a prod.keys file and title.keys to decrypt your ROMs. You will need to continue to keep your prod.keys and title.keys up to date as new Nintendo Switch firmware releases.

If you play a Nintendo Switch game with Miis (for example - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), you will need firmware files.

Read Yuzu's Quick Start guide to learn how to dump Nintendo Switch keys, firmware, and ROMs: https://yuzu-emu.org/help/quickstart/.

Place your ROMs in Emulation/roms/switch. Read the Configuration section to learn more about Yuzu and its folder locations.

To launch your ROMs in game mode, use Steam ROM Manager and use one of the following parsers to play your Nintendo Switch ROMs:

  • EmulationStation-DE
  • Nintendo Switch - Yuzu
  • Emulators

Configuration:

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  • Type of Emulator: AppImage
  • Executable Location: /home/deck/Applications/yuzu.AppImage
  • Config Location: /home/deck/.config/yuzu/
  • Default storage Location: /home/deck/.share/local/yuzu/
  • Persistent Storage: Emulation/storage/yuzu
    • Contains: dump, load, nand, screenshots, sdmc, and tas
  • ROMs: Emulation/roms/switch/
  • Firmware: Emulation/bios/yuzu/firmware/ (symlink folder to the proper place. DO NOT OVERWRITE THE FOLDER or it won't work)
  • Keys: Emulation/bios/yuzu/keys/ (symlink folder to the proper place. DO NOT OVERWRITE THE FOLDER or it won't work)
  • Saves:
    • Symlink: Emulation/saves/yuzu/
    • Target: Emulation/storage/yuzu/nand/user/save/

Note: ~/.local is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click "view hidden files" to see these folders.

Works with:

  • Steam ROM Manager
  • EmulationStation-DE

How to Update Yuzu

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How to Update Yuzu

How to Launch Yuzu in Desktop Mode

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How to Launch Yuzu in Desktop Mode

  • Launch yuzu AppImage from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
  • Launch the script from Emulation/tools/launchers, yuzu.sh
  • Launch the AppImage in /home/deck/Applications/Yuzu.AppImage
  • Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam ROM Manager

File Formats

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  • .kp
  • .nca
  • .nro
  • .nso
  • .nsp
  • .xci

How to Manage DLC and Updates

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Preface: Do not keep your DLC or update files in the Emulation/roms/switch folder. Steam ROM Manager will parse your updates and DLC and create broken shortcuts. After installing your DLC or updates, you can discard them or save them for Ryujinx.

Ryujinx expects your DLC and update files to stay permanently in a folder, either in a folder of your choice, or in Emulation/storage/ryujinx/patchesAndDlc. For further detail, read: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/ryujinx#how-to-manage-dlc-and-updates.

DLC and Updates are installed directly through the Yuzu menu.

Quick Tutorial

  1. In Desktop Mode, open Yuzu
  2. Click File
  3. Click Install Files to NAND..
  4. (Optional) If your DLC or update files are on your SD Card, your path is: /run/media/.... To navigate here, click Computer on the left, open the / folder, open the run folder, then the media folder, and follow the path to the files on your SD Card.
  5. Locate your DLC or update files in your directory
  6. Your DLC or update files are now installed

Hotkeys

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Combo hotkeys have been mapped for this emulator.

Hotkey Yuzu
Menu / Full Screen Select + R3
Docked Mode Start + DPAD Up
GPU Accuracy Start + DPAD Down
Filter Start + DPAD Left
Pause Select + A
Fast Forward Select + R2
Exit Select + Start

Steam Deck Button Layout: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/Hotkeys#steam-deck-button-layout

Known Issues

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  • Files with special characters in the name will not launch from shortcuts created by Steam ROM Manager in Steam or EmulationStation-DE. Rename your ROMs if they contain any of the following characters.
    • Known Cases:
      • é in Pokémon
      • ' in Link's Awakening
  • The 3.4.6 SteamOS Stable Update on March 13th updated Mesa to 23.1. Some games may be affected.
    • Known Issues:
      • Super Mario 3D World has flicking textures in snow levels.
    • Recommended Workarounds:
      • Use the Yuzu Flatpak
      • Test older Yuzu versions
    • Date added to this page: March 14th, 2023
  • Yuzu Mainline 1296 merged YFC 1.5. Recent versions of Yuzu may have some stability issues or regressions.
  • Shin Megami Tensei V may have some performance regressions in recent versions of Yuzu.
  • Pokemon Legends Arceus may have some crashes in recent versions of Yuzu.

Common Issues

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Special Characters

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Files with special characters in the ROM name will not launch from Steam. Rename your ROMs and remove the special character.

Known Cases:

  • é in Pokémon
  • ' in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

If you used Steam ROM Manager previously, re-run Steam ROM Manager after renaming your ROMs.

Combined XCI Files

Combined Nintendo Switch games can be unreliable. These combined games will still work if you open them through Yuzu directly.

However, using combined games may cause issues if you are using a shortcut created by Steam ROM Manager or running the game through EmulationStation-DE.

It is recommended you do not use combined games if you want to use shortcuts created by Steam ROM Manager or run your games through EmulationStation-DE.

Why is Mario Kart 8 stuck on the Mii selection screen?

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Dump and use your firmware and keys from your console following Yuzu's quickstart guide.

The firmware must contain Mii data. Without it, the game will get stuck on the Mii selection screen.

Reference Image:

After you dump your firmware with Mii data, place it in Emulation/bios/yuzu/firmware.

Once you have dumped your firmware with the proper Mii data and placed it in the correct folder, you will be able to proceed through the Mii selection menu.

Why is New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe stuck on a black screen?

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Dump and use your firmware and keys from your console following Yuzu's quickstart guide.

The firmware must contain Mii data. Without it, the game will launch into a black screen.

After you dump your firmware with Mii data, place it in Emulation/bios/yuzu/firmware.

Once you have dumped your firmware with the proper Mii data and placed it in the correct folder, the game will proceed and you will be able to play.

Yuzu Tips and Tricks

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How to Configure Gyro

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Gyro for Cemu requires SteamDeckGyroDSU. SteamDeckGyroDSU can be installed via EmuDeck, or it can be installed manually.

Visual Reference:

How to Install SteamDeckGyroDSU: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/frequently-asked-questions#how-do-i-install-steamdeckgyrodsu

How to Optimize Performance (Power Tools)

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Prerequisites

Recommended Settings

  • Power Tools: Turn SMT off
    • Open the QAM ("..." button), select the Socket icon, select POWERTOOLS, turn off SMT
      • Visual Reference:
    • (Optional) Use the Persistent toggle to set these settings on a per-game basis
      • Visual Reference:
  • Steam Deck Performance Menu: Set Manual GPU Clock Control to 1200 frequency
    • Open the QAM ("..." button), select the Battery icon, enable Advance View, scroll down, enable Manual GPU Clock Control, and set it to 1200
      • Visual Reference:
    • Toggle per game profiles
      • Visual Reference:
  • IMPORTANT: Some Nintendo Switch games will not perform well regardless and will require the Yuzu team to improve compatibility
    • In some cases, these games may have workarounds through modifying settings or applying patches or mods. Search on Google for your respective game, and see if these workarounds exist
    • Check the Yuzu Compatibility List: https://yuzu-emu.org/game/

How to Configure Multiplayer

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Multiplayer for Yuzu is configured out of the box, no additional configuration is needed.

You may need to set the Controller Order in the Steam QAM (... button).

How to Install Mods

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Mod Resources

This list is not comprehensive

Preface

Read Yuzu's instructions on how to install mods here: https://yuzu-emu.org/help/feature/game-modding/

The folder structure of a mod is important. It should generally look like the following:

mod_directory
  - exefs
  - romfs
  - romfs_ext

A few examples:

# Blur Removal Mod for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Blur Removal
  - exefs
      - Zelda-Links Awakening v1.0.1 - DOF.pchtxt

# 60 FPS Mod for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Stable-60fps-v2
  - exefs
      - 1.0.0.pchtxt

# Faster Battles Mod for Pokemon Brilliant Diamond

Faster Battles
  - romfs
      - Data
         - StreamingAssets
             - AssetAssistant
                 - Battle
                     - battle_masterdatas

Tutorial

  1. In Desktop Mode, open Yuzu
  2. Right click a game you intend on modding
  3. Click Open Mod Data Location
    1. Visual Reference:
  4. Place your mod folder in the opened folder
    1. You may need to extract the mod first
    2. Visual Reference:
  5. In Yuzu, right click the same game, open Properties, click the Add-Ons tab
  6. Check the box to the left of your mod(s)
    1. Visual Reference:
  7. Your mod is now installed

Special Game Configurations

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Some games will take additional setup, requiring mods or an extensive alteration of settings. The EmuDeck Community Creations page collects these configurations in one centralized location.

You can submit or view special game configurations here: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/community-creations#yuzu-nintendo-switch

Current List of Special Game Configurations

  • The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

How to Set Up Early Access

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EmuDeck 2.1 added an option to enable Yuzu (Early Access).

Here's how to set it up

  1. Open EmuDeck
  2. Click the Manage Emulators button
  3. Click Yuzu
  4. Click Setup Early Access
  5. Enter your token
  6. Whenever you launch Yuzu, it will now use the Early Access version
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