A recent post on Reddit claims that Pokémon can be played on PC without the need for emulators.
A screenshot shared today shows what looks like Pokémon Legends: Arceus running directly on Windows. This suggests that the game is functioning as an executable program, as opposed to being a ROM file that requires an emulator to operate.
User Reactions
The user capitalggamer1 shared the image with the caption, "This is so epic I hope it happens to more nintendo games" [sic]. The game is shown running in something called the "Nintendo NX Application," which might be a development tool for creating Nintendo Switch games on Windows or possibly a custom program for running these games directly in the operating system.
Technical Details
According to discussions in the thread, this isn't merely a port of Pokémon Legends: Arceus; it’s an application made from the game’s original source code designed to work on x64 systems. The source code for this title, along with various other Pokémon games, was part of the significant Game Freak data leak that occurred earlier this month.
While the screenshot is intriguing, there isn’t much information available regarding this version of the game, so it’s best to approach this news cautiously. It’s possible that the game can be compiled using the leaked source code, but there are no accessible links to the source code or the compiled game files due to obvious reasons. Given the current state of Switch emulation and Nintendo's strict enforcement actions, it seems unlikely that this compiled version of the game—or any other Switch game—will ever be publicly available.
Alternatives to Play
If you're eager to play Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you can always purchase a Nintendo Switch from Amazon for $279.99 and enjoy the game in a legitimate manner.
Reddit (r/PiratedGames)
