Nintendo really doesn't want you to use Switch emulators on Steam Deck

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How-to videos for emulating Nintendo titles have mysteriously disappeared from YouTube

Steam Deck
(Image credit: Valve)

Nintendo may be trying to discourage you from emulating Switch games on Steam Deck.

Steam Deck, Valve's recently launched portable console, lets you not only play PC games on the go but, as it's an open platform, allows you to run emulated ones too. That is, seemingly, unless Nintendo has anything to say about it.

The reason for the content being pulled isn't clear, but Nintendo is notorious for being extremely protective of its IPs, leading many to speculate that the Japanese giant is behind the removal. Currently, the channel's how-to videos for running emulated games on both Xbox and PlayStation are still available, adding further credence to the theory that it's Nintendo specifically which isn't keen on having its games running on Steam Deck.

The Steam Deck emulation videos aren't the only recent Nintendo-related content to be taken down. In January, Nintendo shut down a fan-made Pokemon FPS as, presumably, it didn't like the idea of players gunning down Pikachu.

Anne-Marie Coyle
Freelance Writer

Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 2014 to pursue a Games Journalism and PR degree at Staffordshire University. Following that, I've freelanced for GamesMaster, Games TM, Official PlayStation Magazine and, more recently, Play and Games Radar. My love of gaming sprang from successfully defeating that first Goomba in Super Mario Bros on the NES. These days, PlayStation is my jam. When not gaming or writing, I can usually be found scouring the internet for anything Tomb Raider related to add to my out of control memorabilia collection.