You are legally allowed to dump your own physical copy of Tears of the Kingdom to an XCI file using a modded Nintendo Switch. This is called a "backup." You are not allowed to share that file or download someone else’s dump.

The Tears of the Kingdom XCI is a powerful tool for preservation and PC gaming, but it comes with significant legal and technical caveats. If you choose to pursue it, protect your hardware with VPNs, antivirus software, and—most importantly—ensure you actually own a legitimate copy of the game first.

For emulation enthusiasts, the XCI format offers the definitive way to experience Link’s sky-high adventure on PC with visual enhancements. For the average player, buying the game legitimately is the recommended path.

When Nintendo finally released The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in May 2023, it wasn’t just a sequel to the groundbreaking Breath of the Wild —it was a seismic event in gaming. Within hours of its launch, a specific file format began trending across forums, Reddit, and Discord servers: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom XCI .

For the uninitiated, "XCI" is a file extension associated with Nintendo Switch game cartridges. It represents a raw, 1:1 dump of a physical game card. As the hype for Link’s latest adventure reached a fever pitch, millions of players began searching for the Tears of the Kingdom XCI file. But what exactly is this file? Is it safe? And what should you know before diving into the world of Hyrule via this format?

Nintendo aggressively pursues legal action against websites hosting Zelda XCI files. In 2023, they successfully shut down multiple Switch ROM sites specifically for hosting Tears of the Kingdom prior to its official release date.

Have you played TotK on PC via XCI? Share your performance settings in the comments below.