Eden, the rapidly growing Nintendo Switch emulator for Android and PC, has released a highly anticipated release candidate featuring significant performance and compatibility upgrades — as well as an important reminder to gamers.
The v0.0.4-rc1 update now supports Qualcomm’s stock GPU drivers on Snapdragon 8 Elite and adds support for Switch firmware 20.x, but a profile feature change can orphan user data if you upgrade without a backup.
What Eden v0.0.4-rc1 Delivers for Performance and Support
The headline is a much-needed improvement in stock Qualcomm driver support, important for those using Snapdragon 8 Elite phones and handhelds. To date, emulation enthusiasts have relied on community-developed Mesa Turnip drivers for faster Vulkan performance, though 8 Elite hardware support has lagged given the limited availability of known-good Turnip code. The developers of Eden say this is only a first step, with further optimization in the works.
The update also adds preliminary support for Switch firmware 20.x, which extends the list of compatible titles that boot and work. In addition, users receive a convenient 1.25x internal resolution option, enhancements to graphics rendering paths, UI improvements, and full mouse-and-keyboard support on Android — great for docked setups and desktop-like control options.
Here’s what early testers are saying: testers report significant increases in the smoothness of play for demanding titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, where smarter scheduling and improved rendering can reduce frame-time spikes. And considering that BOTW has sold well over 30 million copies while TOTK has passed 20 million, these optimizations focus on the titles most people try first.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Finally Gets Some Driver Love
The Snapdragon 8 Elite platform has high GPU throughput — though tapping that power hasn’t always been easy due to driver clashes. The emulator closes the 8 Elite gap in theoretical benchmarks and real-world applications by more closely aligning Eden’s Vulkan backend with Qualcomm’s source drivers.
That’s significant for the incoming wave of 8 Elite–based Android gaming handhelds, including such models as KONKR Pocket FIT Elite and AYN Odin 3. If Eden is successful in further tuning its driver path, buyers of those devices will not lose out on the frame-pacing front, and shader-induced hiccups should similarly fade into obscurity — all without relying on experimental driver packages.
Firmware 20.x Support Comes With Important Caveats
Support for Switch firmware 20.x can enhance compatibility for the latest games and updates, but the team warns that it’s still early going. If you don’t have one yet, be sure to save a copy of firmware 19.0.1 or older as a secure fallback. Pulling apart firmware from a Switch means lawfully modifying your hardware and performing a legal, personal dump — an action that differs among jurisdictions and should be taken seriously.
Like any emulator, its legality depends on what you do with your keys, firmware, and game rips. Industry groups and rights holders, such as Nintendo, have a long history of policing this boundary, and it’s best to stay on the right side of that line.
Back Up Your Eden Saves Before Installing This Update
Do not install the update without a backup. Eden v0.0.4-rc1 revises how the emulator works with user profiles, a fix that also helps prevent “orphaned” saves from past configurations. If your install triggers a pop-up about orphaned profiles, you may see your data missing until the connection is reattached.
Best practice: copy all of Eden’s data directory (including the save subdirs and profile folders) to external storage or the cloud prior to updating. If you receive the orphaned profiles message, read the project’s patch notes and migrate or reassign any affected profiles. As this is a release candidate, more fixes will be coming as the team receives feedback.
Availability and the Legal Backdrop Surrounding Eden
Eden can no longer be found on the Google Play Store after an automatic DMCA takedown request from Nintendo. The developers are appealing; in the meantime, builds will be available from the project’s official GitHub repository. Representatives for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which has advocated in general for narrow DMCA exemptions that preserve interoperability, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bottom line: Eden’s latest update is a significant step up for Android emulation on Snapdragon 8 Elite hardware, and early firmware 20.x support paves the way to wider compatibility. Just approach this release as the in-development software it is — back up your profiles and saves first, take it slow, and have a rollback plan should you need to retreat.
