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Strato

strato-emu.github.io

Android
Visit strato-emu.github.io
Spec score 6.5 #19 of 20 in Nintendo Switch Emulators

What it is

Strato is a free, open-source experimental emulator for ARMv8 Android devices. It aims to reproduce Nintendo Switch system functionality through an ARM Compatibility Layer and System Emulation, with goals of accurate, performant and user-friendly operation. The project remains in development and is not ready for public release. Work has covered texture management, synchronization, queries, MSAA rendering and the blit engine, including a texture-manager rewrite intended to improve rendering accuracy. A texture-variant system improved compatibility with Mali GPUs, and firmware importing supports games that use firmware assets. Developers were also modifying core components for 32-bit games, with that work still ongoing in a February 2024 report. Its shader compiler is a modified fork of yuzu’s compiler for mobile GPU emulation. Strato began after Skyline ended in May 2023. Lynx and TheASV are named developers, with additional contributors. The source is licensed under GNU GPL v3.0 or later.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Strato is an open source, experimental emulator for ARMv8 Android devices that emulates a Nintendo Switch system.Read 4 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Product
Strato is an open-source, experimental emulator for ARMv8 Android devices that emulates the functionality of a Nintendo Switch system.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
License
The GitHub repository says Strato is licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0 or later.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
32-bit games
The February 2024 progress report says core emulator components had been modified to work with JIT and were ready to run 32-bit games.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Contributions
The team encourages contributions and directs interested contributors to its Discord and Contributing Guide.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Design
Strato was designed to provide an accurate, performant, and user-friendly emulation experience through an ARM Compatibility Layer and System Emulation.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Developers
The project is developed by Lynx and TheASV, who are full-time students and work on the emulator in their free time.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Development status
The About page says Strato is in development and is not yet ready for public release.Read 4 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Firmware support
The 2023 recap says Strato added support for importing firmware, which the team expected to increase compatibility with games that use firmware assets.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Graphics backend
The project says its shader compiler is a fork of yuzu's shader compiler with Strato-specific changes for mobile GPU emulation.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Graphics technology
The February 2024 progress report describes Strato's use of Vulkan image objects and fences in its graphics work.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Graphics work
The 2023 recap says the team worked on a texture manager rewrite, including texture synchronization and changes that improved rendering accuracy.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Mali GPU compatibility
The project says its texture variant system improved compatibility with Mali GPUs.Read 4 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Origins
Strato was created after Skyline was discontinued in May 2023 to continue that project's work and address its issues, performance, and compatibility.Read 4 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Project history
The project was created after the Skyline emulator was discontinued in May 2023, to continue its work and improve its issues, performance, and compatibility.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Release status
The About page says Strato is in development and is not yet ready for public release.Read 8 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Rendering work
A 2023 recap describes texture management, synchronization, query, MSAA rendering, and blit-engine work intended to improve rendering accuracy.Read 4 Oct 2026 · strato-emu.github.io
Support and contact
The repository directs users with questions and those following development to the Strato Discord server.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source
  • Targets ARMv8 Android devices
  • Firmware importing supports asset-dependent games
  • Mali GPU compatibility work
  • GNU GPL v3.0-or-later license

Limits

  • Not ready for public release
  • 32-bit game support remains ongoing
  • Experimental project in development
  • Android is the listed platform

Who it suits

Strato suits Android users with ARMv8 devices who want to follow an open-source Switch-emulation project. It also suits contributors interested in development through Discord and the contributing guide.

Verdict

Strato offers an open-source Android route to experimental Nintendo Switch emulation, with documented graphics and compatibility work. Its unfinished release status and ongoing 32-bit support make it a project to follow rather than a ready public release.

Where Specifiction places it

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