Switch Emulation on the Horizon: Citron Confirmed for iOS Release

The landscape of emulation on iOS is about to get a major shake-up. In a recent announcement that has sent ripples through the handheld gaming community, the developers behind Citron—a prominent Nintendo Switch emulator—have confirmed that an iOS version is officially in the works.

The news broke via a thread on the r/Citron subreddit, where lead developer Zephyron (known on Reddit as crimsonsword777) teased the project with a post titled “Citron iOS Coming Soon™.” While the project is still in its early stages, this confirmation marks a significant milestone for Apple users who have long looked enviously at the robust Switch emulation scene on Android.

The Announcement: “It Does Boot”

According to the developer’s post, the iOS build is already functional enough to boot, though it is far from a polished release. “Currently it does boot but there’s a few issues to fix,” Zephyron admitted, citing specific challenges with MoltenVK (Mvk) on the iOS platform.

For those uninitiated in the technical side of emulation, MoltenVK is a translation layer that allows Vulkan-based applications (like Citron) to run on Apple’s proprietary Metal graphics API. The developer described the current state of Mvk on iOS as “hell,” noting that it is “half the size of Mvk on Mac” and suffers from numerous missing calls. This suggests that while the emulator is technically running, significant optimization work is required to get games playable at acceptable framerates without visual glitches.

Features: DualSense Support and “TV Mode”

Despite the technical hurdles, the team has outlined some ambitious features for the iOS port. One of the most exciting confirmations is support for adaptive triggers on DualSense controllers. This would allow users to pair a PlayStation 5 controller with their iPhone or iPad and experience force feedback that mimics the original hardware’s resistance, a premium feature often absent in mobile emulators.

Furthermore, the developer teased a specialized experience for iPad users. Once development hardware is acquired, the team plans to implement a version of “TV mode” specifically for the iPad, mirroring functionality currently available on the Mac version. This could potentially turn the iPad into a portable console hybrid, allowing for higher resolution rendering when docked or connected to an external display.

The JIT Hurdle and Sideloading

Perhaps the most critical piece of information for prospective users is the distribution method. When asked about an App Store release, Zephyron was blunt: “Getting it on the App Store would be impossible due to JIT requirements.”

Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation is essential for high-performance emulation of modern consoles like the Switch. It allows the emulator to translate game code into native machine code while the game is running. However, Apple strictly prohibits JIT on iOS apps distributed via the App Store for security reasons.

This means Citron for iOS will require sideloading. The developer confirmed that users will likely need to use StikDebug to enable JIT. StikDebug is a tool that has gained traction in the iOS 17+ era, allowing users to enable JIT debugging on their devices using a developer disk image method. It’s a slightly more complex setup than a standard app install, but it’s a familiar hoop for the dedicated iOS emulation community.

Additionally, users will likely need extended memory entitlements (“memory extend”) to prevent the app from crashing due to the high RAM requirements of Switch games.

Context: What is Citron?

For those new to the name, Citron is a fork of the now-defunct Yuzu emulator. Following Yuzu’s shutdown in 2024, several forks emerged to continue its legacy, with Citron positioning itself as a “powerful Nintendo homebrew emulator.”

The emulator is already well-established on PC and Android. Just days ago, in early February 2026, the team released the “Pathfinder” update (v2026.02.1) for its existing platforms. This major update introduced features like comprehensive save path management, a “Surprise Me!” random game launcher, and an integrated mod downloader for PC users.

The “Pathfinder” update also focused heavily on “quality-of-life improvements,” creating a more stable foundation that will presumably serve as the codebase for the upcoming iOS port. The Android version also recently received optimization for Snapdragon 8 Elite chips, showing the team’s commitment to high-end mobile hardware—expertise that should translate well to Apple’s powerful A-series and M-series chips.

The Road Ahead

While the “Coming Soon™” tag is often a meme for indefinite delays in the emulation world, the active development on other platforms gives this announcement weight. However, skepticism is healthy; the iOS emulation scene is littered with abandoned projects, and the drama surrounding Zephyron (including past controversies over code attribution and “fork wars” with other emulators like Ryujinx/MelonX) keeps some users wary.

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