A new GameCube emulator, Gecko, is emerging as an alternative to Dolphin, which has long dominated GameCube and Wii emulation. Its arrival matters because emulators can help people access older games that are unavailable on modern platforms and support game preservation, although Gecko is currently far less mature than Dolphin.

Gecko was created by GitHub user Layle for homebrew development, reverse engineering and personal interest in emulating Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers. Layle says Gecko probably offers no features Dolphin lacks; Dolphin, developed since 2003, reports no completely broken GameCube titles, while Gecko warns that many games have visual faults or do not run. Emulators themselves are legal, but using copied games generally requires dumping games one legally owns; Nintendo has pursued emulator-related enforcement, including a $2.4 million 2024 lawsuit involving Switch emulator Yuzu.