FLT (#331)

site/content/entry/ldn-is-here/index.md

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+date = "2022-09-11T01:40:00+05:30"
+title = "New Feature Release - Local Wireless Multiplayer"
+author = "CaptV0rt3x"
+forum = 622491
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+
+Hey there, yuz-ers!
+The MOST awaited feature of yuzu, Local Wireless Multiplayer (LDN), is finally here!
+So what are you waiting for?
+Time to grab your friends and jump right in!
+
+<!--more-->
+
+## What is this?
+
+The Nintendo Switch console supports various multiplayer options. 
+Among these, the following options are useful when you want to play multiplayer with other Switch consoles.
+{{< imgs "./multi.png| Table indicating yuzu's supported Switch multiplayer modes" >}}
+
+{{< imgs 
+    "./Switch_Conn.png| Graphic demonstrating the key differences between the three wireless modes" 
+>}}
+
+<article class="message has-text-weight-semibold"><div class="message-body"><p>
+The Switch's HorizonOS uses the LDN service for all Local Wireless communication. <br>
+This is why Local Wireless Multiplayer can also be referred to as LDN Multiplayer.
+</p></div></article>
+
+Thanks to the incredible efforts of our developers [FearlessTobi](https://github.com/FearlessTobi) and [german77](https://github.com/german77), Local Wireless Multiplayer in yuzu is no longer a dream!
+Special thanks to [spacemeowx2](https://github.com/spacemeowx2/) and [all the contributors](https://github.com/spacemeowx2/ldn_mitm/graphs/contributors) of the [ldn_mitm](https://github.com/spacemeowx2/ldn_mitm) project.
+Without their extensive reverse-engineering of the `LDN` service, and the gracious [license exemption](https://github.com/spacemeowx2/ldn_mitm#licensing) for yuzu, this would not have been possible.
+
+<br>
+<article class="message"><div class="message-header">
+<p>⚠️ Attention</p>
+</div>
+<div class="message-body"><p style="color:white;">
+<b>Currently, Local Wireless Multiplayer (LDN) is only supported between instances of yuzu.<br>
+Multiplayer between yuzu and a real Switch or between yuzu and other emulators is not supported!</b>
+</p></div></article>
+
+## Where can you get it?
+
+The Local Wireless Multiplayer feature is now available in the latest version of the Early Access release.
+We will be working to polish this feature and make this available to the Mainline builds soon.
+
+<article class="message has-text-weight-semibold"><div class="message-body"><p>
+If you're using the yuzu installer, you'll automatically be updated to the latest build.<br>    
+If you're <b>not</b> using the yuzu installer, please download it from our <a href= https://yuzu-emu.org/downloads/>Download</a> page. <br>
+<br>
+We highly recommend using our installer to always stay up to date on both Mainline and Early Access builds.
+</p></div></article>
+
+## Local Wireless (LDN) Multiplayer
+
+yuzu's Local Wireless multiplayer (LDN) differs a little bit when compared to the Nintendo Switch.
+The Switch console uses the `LDN` service to scan for other Switch consoles using Wi-Fi and connects all players.
+Here, one player would act as the `host` and all others would connect to it.
+
+yuzu, on the other hand, employs virtual rooms to allow players to create and join game lobbies within said rooms.
+Since this emulates the Switch's ability to do local wireless multiplayer, it does NOT rely on Nintendo’s servers and does NOT require a Nintendo Account. 
+While on a real Switch, you’d be limited to the people in your immediate vicinity, yuzu boasts a complex server/client infrastructure that forwards a game’s wireless communication across the internet.
+
+In order to connect with other players, players simply need to join the same room within yuzu’s Public Room Browser. 
+But, before opening the Public Room Browser, you will have to first configure your network interface in yuzu.
+
+You can find this setting under `System -> Network` and you need to select your internet connection from the drop-down as shown below.
+
+{{< imgs "./network_interface.png| yuzu's Network Interface configuration" >}}
+
+Out of the box, we provide you with an assortment of public rooms hosted across the world by yuzu.
+Creating and joining rooms is extremely easy in yuzu and can be done in just a few clicks.
+
+{{< imgs "./room_browser.png| yuzu's Public Room Browser" >}}
+
+If you’re a [Verified User](https://community.citra-emu.org/signup), you can create your very own public room for people to join. 
+These public rooms can be seen by anyone using the Public Room Browser, but you can also password protect them to restrict users' access.
+Verified Users will have their forum nickname and profile picture populated in the chatroom.
+<br>
+
+<article class="message"><div class="message-header">
+<p>⚠️ Reminder</p></div>
+<div class="message-body"><p style="color:#eed202;">
+<b>When hosting a room, remember to port forward or your friends won’t be able to connect!</b>
+</p></div></article>
+
+If you prefer not to sign up for our platform, you aren’t out of luck! 
+Unverified Users still have the ability to create unlisted rooms, directly connect to unlisted rooms, and can join any yuzu hosted room.
+
+Do note that Verified Users will have their privileges revoked for violating any yuzu policies while in the room chatroom.
+Please respect the `Preferred Game` listed in publicly hosted rooms, as even unrelated games will add to the bandwidth load.
+
+{{< imgs "./room_chat.png| Public Room chat and moderation features" >}}
+
+<article class="message has-text-weight-semibold"><div class="message-body"><p>
+You can use these rooms for LAN mode games as well — instead of ZeroTier or Hamachi.</b>
+</p></div></article>
+
+Please visit [our multiplayer guide](https://yuzu-emu.org/help/feature/multiplayer/) for further help with Hosting, Port Forwarding, Authentication, and Moderation of your publicly hosted rooms.
+
+## Development
+
+FearlessTobi began development by leveraging the existing virtual rooms infrastructure from [Citra](https://citra-emu.org).
+Due to code similarities between yuzu and Citra, this tried-and-tested infrastructure easily became the foundation of this feature.
+
+Now that the virtual rooms were taken care of, Tobi moved onto the `LDN` service and its protocols.
+Using the research and code from the [ldn_mitm](https://github.com/spacemeowx2/ldn_mitm) project, he implemented the necessary changes for yuzu instances to communicate with each other over these virtual rooms.
+During this process, Tobi put an extra emphasis on ensuring no personal data, such as IP addresses, was leaked to the other room members.
+
+As the feature slowly matured, Tobi began utilizing yuzu's internal team of testers to verify the feature across several titles for compatibility and performance validation. 
+
+With the multiple testing iterations, various bugs and glitches were found. 
+german77 relied on his own reverse-engineering and hardware tests to debug these issues, which then made it easy for the team to fix these various problems.
+He also made several UI fixes to improve its usability and brought the codebase up to yuzu standards.
+
+## Compatibility
+
+Please note that as this is the initial release of the feature, some games may have some limitations.
+We hope to slowly fix these over the course of the next few months.
+
+yuzu's Local Wireless Multiplayer was tested by our team of Testers and Support staff across a small set of popular titles. Their compatibility findings are as follows:
+
+{{< imgs "./compat.png| List of yuzu-tested multiplayer titles" >}}
+
+
+## Screenshots
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Animal Crossing: New Horizons"
+    "./acnh1.jpg"
+    "./acnh2.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Splatoon 2"
+    "./splatoon2_1.png"
+    "./splatoon2_3.png"
+    "./splatoon2_2.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe"
+    "./mk8d_1.png"
+    "./mk8d_2.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Pokémon Legends: Arceus"
+    "./arceustrade1.png"
+    "./arceustrade2.png"
+    "./arceustrade3.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Luigi's Mansion 3"
+    "./lm3_1.png"
+    "./lm3_2.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Super Mario Smash Bros. Ultimate"
+    "./ssbu_ldn_2.png"
+    "./ssbu_ldn_3.png"
+    "./ssbu_ldn_1.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< imgs
+    "./PLG_1.png|"
+    "./PLG_2.png|"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Pokémon Let's Go: Pikachu/Eevee"
+    "./PLG_3.png"
+    "./PLG_4.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< imgs
+    "./bdsp_1.png|"
+    "./bdsp_2.png|"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl"
+    "./bdsp_3.png"
+    "./bdsp_4.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< single-title-imgs
+    "Diablo III : Eternal Collection"
+    "./Diablo3_LDN_1.png"
+    "./Diablo3_LDN_2.png"
+>}}
+
+{{< imgs
+    "./cowabunga.png| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection" 
+    "./monster_hunter_ultimate.png| Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate"
+    "./kirby_dream_buffet.png| Kirby's Dream Buffet"
+>}}
+
+
+## Fin
+
+As with any new update, we've tested the feature internally, but our efforts can't compare to the community as a whole. 
+We could have easily missed an edge case or some weird bug or issue among the vast collection of games with Local Wireless.
+
+Test any and all games! Poke, prod, and play! Please break this release if you can! With your help, we can make yuzu the best it can be.
+Please reach out to us on our [Discord](https://discord.gg/u77vRWY) and report any bugs you find, so that we can quickly address them.
+
+That's all we have for now, until next time! Happy emulating! <br><br>
+
+{{< article-end >}}