Tico

Name

Tico

Website

https://tico.chat

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tico is a Taipei-based open-source software project that enables GameCube and Wii game emulation natively on the Nintendo Switch through Custom Firmware, targeting the Switch modding community via self-serve, community-driven distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Taipei

HQ country

Taiwan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Open Source Project (Pre-Revenue): Tico is currently an open-source software project in alpha stage. The project appears to be community-driven without an established revenue model. As an alpha release targeting the modding/hacking community, monetization has not been disclosed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Tico is an open-source alpha-stage software project that packages the Dolphin emulator core to run GameCube and Wii games directly on the Nintendo Switch's native Horizon OS via Custom Firmware. The current release, Tico 0.7.0 Alpha, eliminates the need for separate Android or Linux environments, provides a controller-first interface, and includes automatic performance boosting of the Switch's Tegra X1 chip and automatic game library management. Distribution is community-driven through open-source channels targeting the Nintendo Switch modding community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tico An open-source alpha-stage software application that enables GameCube and Wii game emulation directly on the Nintendo Switch's native Horizon OS through Custom Firmware. It packages the Dolphin emulator core adapted for the Switch's Tegra X1 processor, with controller-first interface, automatic game library management, and automatic Tegra X1 performance boosting. Targeted at individual Nintendo Switch owners with Custom Firmware who want to play classic GameCube and Wii titles without setting up separate Android or Linux environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminates need for separate Android or Linux OS installation for emulation

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Direct peers

• PPSSPP: PPSSPP is a long-running PSP emulator project, similarly community-driven and cross-platform. It is a relevant peer for understanding how an established emulator sustains itself (PPSSPP Gold paid version) and serves a comparable retro-gaming user demographic.
• Dolphin Emulator: Dolphin is the GameCube/Wii emulator core that Tico adapts and bundles. The two share identical end-user functionality (running GameCube/Wii titles) and overlapping contributor communities; Tico's differentiation is the Switch/Horizon OS integration layer rather than a new emulation engine.
• Citra: Citra is a Nintendo 3DS emulator that merged with Yuzu's successor projects, representing another open-source Nintendo-family emulator with the same legal exposure profile and community-driven distribution model.
• PCSX2: PCSX2 is an open-source PlayStation 2 emulator with a mature multi-year development history. It is comparable as a long-running, community-driven retro console emulator that has navigated IP risk and is now a reference point for sustainable emulator project structure.
• RetroArch / Libretro: Libretro's RetroArch is the dominant multi-system emulation frontend, aggregating cores (including Dolphin) behind a unified interface. It is the closest direct comparable to Tico's value proposition of consolidating console emulation behind a simpler UX, though it targets general-purpose hardware rather than native Switch/Horizon OS execution.
• Cemu: Cemu is a Wii U emulator with a similar closed-source-to-open-source pivot history and comparable end-user audience (Nintendo console retro gaming). It illustrates a potential commercialization path through Patreon/early access that Tico could emulate.
• Ryujinx: Ryujinx was an open-source Nintendo Switch emulator that was shut down in October 2024 following Nintendo legal action. Like Tico, it targeted Switch hardware emulation; its discontinuation is the most recent data point on the durability of Switch emulator projects.
• Yuzu: Yuzu was the leading standalone Nintendo Switch emulator before settling with Nintendo and ceasing development in March 2024. It is the most directly comparable historical peer in terms of target platform and legal exposure, and its shutdown defines the risk envelope for Tico.

Emerging players

• Skyline Emulator: Skyline was an early Nintendo Switch emulator project (now largely inactive). It is comparable as a Switch-specific emulator initiative that ran into similar legal and technical headwinds, providing a cautionary peer for Tico's trajectory.
• EmuDeck: EmuDeck packages multiple emulators (including Dolphin, PCSX2, etc.) into a unified installation flow primarily for Steam Deck and Linux handhelds. It is comparable as a UX-focused layer that simplifies emulation setup, but on different host hardware than Tico's Switch/Horizon OS target.

Market position

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TicoMsg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tico