Nintendo DS emulator ‘DraStic’ removed from Google Play Store

Nintendo’s ongoing battle against emulators has seen some notable developments. Both the Skyline and Yuzu Switch emulators faced major setbacks in 2023, though Yuzu remains active due to its open-source nature.

But now, another Nintendo emulator is gone: DraStic, the popular DS emulator for Android.

Back in March 2024, DraStic’s lead developer, Exophase, announced plans to eventually remove the app from the Play Store — perhaps, an attempt to avoid legal conflict with Nintendo.

That time has now come as the DraStic DS emulator is no longer listed on the Play Store. The link to its page now leads to a dead page.

Exophase had warned fans about this move almost a year ago. In a Discord post, the developer explained that the app has been made free to make sure there’s no incentive to not releasing the source code.

If Exophase follows through, the code could be released, potentially allowing other developers to take over and continue working on DraDtic, much like Yuzu was able to keep going after its own open-source move.

Despite its last update being in 2017, DraStic had a strong following, and there’s a good chance some developers might be interested in reviving it.

DraStic UI

Not all hope is gone, though. The app can still be sideloaded via APK, as long as users find a reputable source to download it from.

Those who were able to install DraStic prior the removal, the app should still function normally.

Despite DraStic’s absence from the Play Store, other emulators are already stepping up to fill the gap. MelonDS offers a more modern interface and features not found in DraStic.

For those looking for all-in-one solutions, platforms like RetroArch and Lemuroid can use the DeSmuME Libretro core, though performance can vary.