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Cemu – Wii U Emulator

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Cemu is a standalone Wii U emulator. It offers good emulation features such as upscaling graphics, up to 4K resolution, and a wide range of controller configurations, and performance enhancement features. Cemu is regularly updated with new features and improvements Cemu requires key files to function properly.

Cemu Download

Select which version you require below to be taken to either the official website or app store for your device where you can download:

Windows
apple [#173] Created with Sketch. macOS
Linux

Cemu Setup Instructions

This quick reference guide will walk you through the process of setting up the Cemu emulator to play Wii U games.

1. Downloading Cemu

  1. Go to the official Cemu website: cemu.info.
  2. Scroll down the page until you see the Download latest experimental version and Stable version options.
    • For this guide, we will use the Experimental version (2.0).
  3. Clicking the link will take you to the Cemu GitHub page.
  4. Select the version for your operating system—typically Windows x64.

2. Installing Cemu

Extracting Cemu

  1. Ensure you have 7-Zip or another file extraction tool installed on your PC. If not, you can download it from 7-zip.org.
  2. Download the compressed Cemu file and place it on your desktop.
  3. Right-click on the Cemu compressed file and select:
    • “Show more options” → “7-Zip” → “Extract to Cemu”.
  4. Once extracted, a new folder with all the necessary files will appear on your desktop. You can now delete the original compressed file.

3. Setting Up Cemu

Initial Setup

  1. Open the Cemu folder and find the main Cemu application file. Double-click it to open the emulator.
  2. Upon the first launch, Cemu will prompt you to import your Wii U games.
    • Make sure your Wii U ROMs are organized in a dedicated folder. For this guide, we’ll create:
      • A folder called Wii U Games on an external hard drive.
      • Inside it, two subfolders: Base Games and Updates & DLC.

Setting the Game Path

  1. In Cemu, go to the Game Path section and click Browse.
  2. Navigate to the folder where your Wii U ROMs are stored (e.g., Base Games).
  3. Select this folder and click OK.

Downloading Graphics Packs

  1. Next, download community Graphics Packs for visual enhancements.
  2. Go to Options → Download Community Graphic Packs.
  3. When prompted to view the downloaded graphic packs, click No (you can always review them later).

4. Configuring Your Controller

Selecting and Mapping the Controller

  1. In Cemu, go to Options → Input Settings.
  2. Under Emulated Controller, select Wii U GamePad (necessary for most games).
  3. Next to Controller API, choose the appropriate one based on your controller type:
    • DirectInput for a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
    • XInput for Xbox controllers.
  4. Click Add, and you can start mapping your buttons.
    • Simply click the box next to each button (A, B, X, Y, etc.) and press the corresponding button on your controller.
  5. After mapping all buttons, give your configuration a name (e.g., P1) and save it.
  6. If using multiple controllers, set them up similarly.

5. Configuring Game Updates & DLC

Adding Game Updates & DLC

  1. In Cemu, go to File → Install Game Title, Update, or DLC.
  2. Navigate to your Updates & DLC folder, and choose the game update or DLC file.
  3. Click on the meta folder inside the update/DLC folder and hit Select Folder.
  4. Repeat this process for each game’s update and DLC files.

6. Adjusting Graphics Settings

Best Graphics Performance

  1. Go to Options → Graphics Settings.
  2. For the best performance, set the Graphics API to Vulkan.
    • If you encounter issues (e.g., black screens, lag), switch to OpenGL.
  3. To avoid screen tearing, enable VSync and set it to Double Buffering.

Customizing Game-Specific Graphics Packs

  1. Right-click on any game in your list and choose Edit Graphic Packs.
  2. Select the desired enhancements, such as:
    • 60 FPS for smoother gameplay.
    • Resolution Upscaling (e.g., up to 1440p).
  3. If unsure, descriptions are provided for each graphics pack option to help guide you.

7. Optional: Setting Full-Screen Mode and Auto Updates

  1. In Options, check Start games in full screen.
  2. Enable Automatically check for emulator updates for the latest features and fixes.