Potential Game Boy Datamines Provide Evidence for Imminent Nintendo Direct

A new datamine has leaked Nintendo’s official GBA emulator for Nintendo Switch. The information was brought to attention by Twitter use Trashbandacoot, who also shared screenshots of the games running.

So Nintendo's official Game Boy Advance emulator for the Nintendo Switch just leaked. Now it's just a matter of waiting for NSO to add GBA. pic.twitter.com/mEJcKrRtzL

— FivekNIghts (@trashbandatcoot) April 18, 2022

And here's some screenshots of it actually working if anyone is curious lol. pic.twitter.com/RcAULaFX07

— FivekNIghts (@trashbandatcoot) April 18, 2022

A number of games are mentioned including Tactics Ogre, Golden Sun, F Zero, Ninja Five-0 and more.

What happened was four files popped up today on 4chan, and two of these are NSPs with a 7z archive that has loose NCAs. The 7z archive is called Hiyoko, a Game Boy emulator apparently made by NERD – the team that has worked on other classic platforms for Switch Online. There’s also a GBA emulator called Sloop as well

The consensus of the community is that the files are legitimate because entire builds of three Nintendo Switch Online apps are useable and playable and the source code with identifying information from developers at Nintendo, Box version control commit logs, and timestamps are there as well.  Because of the leak, there are Switch owners out there building from the code and playing pre-finished builds, making this very unlikely to be a fake.

…called Sloop, and the 7z archive is called Hiyoko, which is a Game Boy emulator, with all Game Boy games being separate applications. These emulators are developed by NERD (Nintendo Europe Research & Development), and are both functional, albeit with a few bugs. (2/?) pic.twitter.com/RRUAVvz2BX

— FivekNIghts (@trashbandatcoot) April 18, 2022

Now with full analog support pic.twitter.com/9962DinNNC

— RatgorlHunter (@RatgorlHunter) April 18, 2022

What is notable is that there is significant maintenance being done next week on April 26, which could point to the date for a Nintendo Direct announcement.