An open-source unofficial Nvidia GeForce Now client for Nintendo 3DS consoles has popped up on GitHub, letting you play PC games on the dual-screen handheld. This mod supports cloud streaming on Nintendo 3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS XL consoles, with the possibility to customise controls and connection settings if needed.
Called Kasumi, this homebrew app installs on jailbroken Nintendo 3DS-era handhelds, specifically those featuring a built-in video decoder. You can technically play any game available on GeForce Now, including those you own through Steam, Epic, and Ubisoft Connect, while accessing the full suite of RTX technologies, such as DLSS, frame generation, and Reflex. To do so, you only need to link your third-party stores to your GeForce Now account.
This is possible because Kasumi and the 3DS mainly handle video/audio decoding and controller input; the games are rendered on Nvidia’s servers. Note however, that games requiring mouse and keyboard exclusively may be unplayable due to the lack of support on the console side.
Understandably, since the console isn’t running games locally, your Wi-Fi and internet connections, not to mention your distance from Nvidia’s GeForce Now servers, play a major role in the quality of your experience. I mean, besides the low 960×540 resolution of the video stream and the 3DS’s 400×240 display. In other words, you won’t be able to take advantage of GeForce Now’s 5K Ultimate tier.
The mod developer says Kasumi was purposefully designed around the limits of Nintendo’s handheld, which meant capping the frame rate at 30fps and bitrate at around 1Mbps. The reason is that the 3DS was built for 30fps video, while its 2.4GHz Wi-Fi adaptor starts losing packets above 1.2Mbps.
As for server latency, the modder measured between 60ms and 80ms. To ensure smooth gameplay whenever Wi-Fi isn’t cooperating, the mod holds one or two frames as a buffer. You’re shown live PING and frame rate measurements too, so you can check if everything is running smoothly.
Performance aside, Kasumi features controls designed specifically for the 3DS, allowing you to configure per-game button mappings and gyro aiming. The touch-screen also provides L3 and R3 buttons for games that require those controller inputs.
Most importantly, the mod works with the free version of GeForce Now, including the waiting queue and one-hour session limit. As such, closing the console lid doesn’t remove you from the queue. Better yet, it informs you when your turn has come using notification lights.
Lastly, note that while Kasumi works well for everyday play, it’s still in active development, and very much an unofficial mod, so expect some rough edges.
