Dolphin Emulator, a software used for emulating GameCube and Wii games, is set to launch on Steam this year. The announcement was made by the company through a blog post, although no specific release date was given for the emulator’s launch on Valve’s platform.
According to Dolphin’s store page on Steam, interested users can wishlist it ahead of its release, with a launch window set for Q2 2023. Despite this long wait time, the emulator will be available for free in early access to all users once it releases. Its developer has set an optimistic end-of-2023 target date for leaving early access.
In the meantime, the existing Dolphin experience that players are familiar with will be available while in early access, albeit with better support on Steam UI to enhance user navigation.
“Dolphin Emulator allows these classic games to be reborn into the modern era with support for 4K displays, modern controllers, and much more,” reads a description of Dolphin’s capabilities from its Steam store page.
For those wondering about game compatibility and availability within the emulator system itself, it should be noted that Dolphin does not come pre-loaded with any games. Instead, it functions as an Open Source tool allowing players to run GameCube and Wii games legally obtained elsewhere. Users must convert their own games into compatible formats before playing them in Dolphin.
This may make older Nintendo games easier to play without needing older systems or cartridges that can be difficult or expensive to acquire today; recent reports suggest that acquiring older Nintendo games through official channels has become increasingly challenging in recent years following closure of eShops linked to previous-generation consoles like the 3DS and Wii U.
The news of Dolphin coming to Steam is exciting for many gamers awaiting its release who look forward to revisiting older titles from decades past now revived and optimized for modern hardware configurations.
