Guarana Download

Frequently asked questions

Short, honest answers about running Guarana on integrated GPUs and handhelds.

Questions

What is Guarana?

Guarana is a free, open-source Nintendo Switch 2 emulator tuned for integrated GPUs: Intel Arc iGPU laptops and handhelds first, AMD Radeon iGPU handhelds next. It is a fork of Lichii, which builds on Eglantine, Eden and yuzu. The work focuses on frame pacing, frame generation and GPU fixes measured on real hardware, tested on Windows 11.

Is there a Switch 2 emulator for Intel Arc integrated graphics?

Yes: that is what Guarana is tuned for. On a Core Ultra 9 285H laptop with Arc 140T (driver 32.0.101.9175), the global-memory routing fix took Ocarina of Time's Hyrule Field from 14.75 to 22.83 game fps with frame generation off. That is one laptop and one scene; see the device pages for other Arc GPUs.

Does it run on handhelds like the ROG Ally, MSI Claw or Legion Go?

Not measured by us yet. Handhelds are a target (Intel Arc ones first, then AMD Radeon ones). One handheld has a third-party report: about 30 fps in Ocarina of Time on a ROG Xbox Ally X, on the upstream Lichii tracker (#1433). The Arc 140V GPU of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ has another third-party report, on a different build. Every other handheld is untested: see the device pages and send a report.

Will it run on a low-end PC?

It is built for PCs without a gaming graphics card, but Switch 2 emulation is still demanding. Our only measured result is 22.83 game fps in an outdoor scene on a Core Ultra 9 285H laptop. Older or lower-power integrated GPUs are untested, so we can't promise playable speeds there. Try it and send a report.

How does frame generation work, and does it add input lag?

Guarana extrapolates: after the game renders a frame, it predicts the following frames by moving pixels along the game's own motion vectors. Nothing waits for a future frame, so it adds no latency, unlike interpolation, which has to hold the newest frame back. The HUD is handled separately so text and menus don't smear. Motion data is wired up for Ocarina of Time only so far, and frame generation pauses while HDR output is active.

Does Guarana have smooth frame pacing?

Smooth pacing is the goal, and it isn't finished. With frame generation on, each generated frame keeps the screen for an equal share of the time between real frames, but some micro-stutter remains. The fix in progress is a presenter locked to the display's vblank, so frames change every 16.67 ms on a 60 Hz screen. Separately, the first visit to an area can hitch while shaders compile.

What does game fps mean on this site?

Game fps is how many frames per second the game itself renders. Generated frames are not counted, so frame generation can't inflate the number. With frame generation on, you see more frames than the game fps.

Does Guarana include keys, firmware or games?

No. You dump keys, firmware and games from a Switch 2 and games you own. The project doesn't help anyone get them elsewhere, and requests for them are closed.

Guarana is open-source software (GPL-3.0-or-later) that contains no Nintendo keys, firmware or games, and it isn't affiliated with Nintendo. Laws on emulation and on copying your own games differ by country, so this isn't legal advice. See the legal page.

What do I need to run it?

A Windows 11 x64 PC or handheld with a Vulkan-capable GPU and a current graphics driver, plus your own keys, firmware and games. Our measurements come from a Core Ultra 9 285H laptop with Arc 140T. There is no measured minimum yet. On Windows with 16 GB of RAM, enlarge the page file.

Which graphics driver should I use?

A current stable driver from Intel or AMD. Our Intel numbers use 32.0.101.9175, and a fix for an Intel driver cache race is in progress. Results can change between driver versions, so put your exact version in every report.

Which games work?

Every number on this site comes from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is also the only game with extrapolated frame generation so far. Guarana follows upstream Lichii, so other games may run, but we haven't measured them. Tell us what you find.

Why does it stutter the first time I enter an area?

The emulator compiles shaders the first time it meets each effect, and the first visit pays for that. Later visits load them from the cache. A remaining pacing micro-stutter has its own fix in progress.

Does it run on Linux, SteamOS or macOS?

We test on Windows 11 only. If a release lists builds for other systems, we haven't tested them; reports from Linux and Steam Deck users are welcome.

How is Guarana different from Lichii?

Guarana is a downstream fork focused on integrated GPUs. It adds the global-memory routing fix, extrapolated frame generation and frame pacing work, and changes ship only with a measured gain on a verified scene. Fixes that aren't specific to integrated GPUs should go to upstream Lichii first.

How do I send a device report?

Open the device report form on GitHub. Include your device, CPU and GPU, driver version, power mode, the game and spot you tested, the switches you set, and the game fps. Untested devices need this most.

Can AI coding agents contribute?

Yes. AGENTS.md explains the rules, issues labeled agent-ready are scoped for agents, every pull request is built and tested free in CI, and an opt-in debug MCP server lets an agent read status, frame times, screenshots and logs from a running game. See Contribute.

Is Guarana affiliated with Nintendo, Intel or AMD?

No. It is an independent open-source project. Product names are used only to say what it runs on.

Where is the official download?

Only on the GitHub releases page of github.com/karimalsalah/guarana. This website links there and never hosts downloads itself. Ignore other sites that offer Guarana downloads.