Play Super Nintendo Games on Your PC with Epilogue’s USB Dock
▼ Summary
– The SN Operator is a new USB device from Epilogue that allows users to play and archive original Super Nintendo and Super Famicom game cartridges on modern computers and handhelds.
– Preorders for the $59.99 device open on December 30th, with shipping expected to begin in April 2026.
– It connects via USB and works with Epilogue’s Playback app, which includes a built-in emulator but also supports third-party emulators.
– A key feature is its ability to authenticate game cartridges to verify their legitimacy and create digital backups, including save data, for preservation.
– The device is compatible with all cartridges that work on original hardware, but Epilogue specifies users should only back up games they personally own.
For retro gaming enthusiasts looking to preserve and play their classic Super Nintendo libraries, a new hardware solution is arriving soon. Epilogue’s SN Operator, a dedicated USB cartridge dock, will open for preorders, allowing users to run their original SNES and Super Famicom game cartridges directly on a modern computer or handheld device.
This marks the company’s second such product, following the successful GB Operator for Game Boy titles. The new dock supports the entire Super Nintendo library, connecting via USB to PCs, Macs, or devices like the Steam Deck. It functions alongside Epilogue’s Playback software, which includes a built-in emulator for seamless gameplay. Users are not locked into this software, however; they can employ their preferred emulator once their game data is accessed.
A significant feature beyond simple playability is preservation and authentication. The Playback app can verify the legitimacy of cartridges, a boon for collectors navigating a market filled with reproductions. Furthermore, it enables users to create complete digital backups of their cartridges, including saved game progress. This archival function safeguards a collection against the inevitable physical degradation of 30-year-old hardware, ensuring games remain playable even if the original plastic cart fails.
The dock maintains compatibility with the full spectrum of software that worked on the original console, including titles designed for peripherals like the Super NES Mouse or the Super Scope. These will simply utilize a computer’s standard mouse for input. It will also read unofficial reproduction cartridges, though Epilogue emphasizes the product is intended for backing up only games that an individual personally owns.
Preorders for the SN Operator commence at a set time, with the hardware priced at a specific point. This is a modest increase over the company’s earlier Game Boy model, which will continue to be sold. Following the preorder period, customers can expect their units to arrive in the second quarter of the year, marking the culmination of a development period that included extensive previews of the design.
(Source: The Verge)
