Here’s a little something interesting that we didn’t know about Switch before. With modders now exploring the hardware, it’s been discovered that each system has an internal NES emulator. Aside from the name “flog,” that’s the only information out there.

Now, we do know that NES games will eventually be offered for Switch. Those who subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online starting in 2018 will be able to download a compilation of classic titles with added online play. Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight, and Dr. Mario will be included in the supported titles. These games should presumably be capable of being emulated right off the bat with the “flog” software installed.

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Can't wait for virtual console. Hate playing old games on phones or keyboards

What does that even mean? Like does it have nes hardware or is it just software emulation? Wtf

I'm wondering this myself.

I'm pretty sure the way it was done prior was that every VC game had it's own game-specific emulator that would be downloaded along with the game itself.

NES hardware emulation would be just insane. The system is so old that writing a software emulator should be relatively easy at this point, I would imagine. A hardware emulator costs money, so I can't see Switch having one.

That said, it doesn't really specify which one it is, so it's a valid question. But if there's a hardware emulator, I have to question Nintendo's sanity.

I suppose this could be for the online service or part of the eventual VC. I'm hoping it's the 2nd one...

This essentially means every NES game can run on a single built-in emulator, rather than each game coming with its own. I imagine this will shrink the required file sizes of individual games. I wonder if they'll do this for the other Virtual Console games?

Insane to embed into the NS perhaps, but the concept is certailnly workable:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-nf4N9ZTbY

Your needs have been met for years.

It has a software emulator.

The CPU in the NES has 3,500-4,500 transistors.

I would assume the GPU is in a similar range of only "thousands" of transistors.
Today we have chips with Billions of transistors.

It's cost would be pretty insignificant if it was included in any modern SoC.

But you are right, it's highly doubtful the Switch has one, it's SoC is almost a direct clone of Tegra, there is no "secret sauce".

Do the games really come with it's own individual emulator though?

I would assume the game comes with it's own profile to set the most optimal settings for the emulator.

Or if the games are downloaded with an emulator, it would likely still be a generic multi-purpose emulator, it's just contained within it's own container for convenient distribution.
Because building an Emulator for each individual game is just unnecessary software engineering.