Claude Helps Adapt Nintendo Games for Apple Console

Developer known as FloatingFalafel introduced TVPort – an open tool that allows running Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 games directly on Apple TV 4K. For the project, he used Claude Opus 5.5 from Anthropic. The solution is based on the nxnative toolkit, on which the author developed his own method for porting games. All operations are performed on a Mac computer, where the software code is adapted to work on the Apple platform.

The main difference between TVPort and regular emulation lies in the launch method. Instead of simulating the Switch hardware environment, the program pre-converts the game's executable code for the target device. As a result, the ported game runs as a standalone application without an additional emulation layer. However, automatic porting does not guarantee full compatibility: individual projects handle textures differently and require additional diagnostics and fixes. The tool can also create backup copies of saves on Mac or iCloud and allows choosing the frame rate – 30 or 60 fps.

Initial tests showed mixed results. Super Mario Odyssey runs at 60 fps, although there are occasional minor delays and sound issues near waterfalls. Animal Crossing: New Horizons operates with a 30 fps limit, with no noticeable issues detected by the author. The more demanding The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom causes overheating of the third-generation Apple TV 4K and subsequent CPU throttling. The device is not equipped with a fan, so prolonged load becomes a problem. Serious fixes may be required to run such games, and some projects, according to the developer, may not be adaptable for this console model at all. FloatingFalafel is also exploring the possibility of porting Switch games to Xbox Series X. TVPort itself does not contain game files: users need their own legally obtained copies. The project emerged amid debates about the use of AI in decompilation: the site decomp.dev announced its closure, and Anthropic limited Claude Code's capabilities in recreating existing games.