Kenji-NX Changelog & Version History (2.0.5 → 2.1.0-pr.2)
Kenji-NX moves fast, and old download mirrors on the internet rarely tell you what actually changed between versions. This page tracks the official release history of the Android builds — what each version added, which build variant you should pick, and where releases live now that the GitHub repositories are gone.
Latest release: 2.1.0-pr.2 (February 13, 2026)
The current recommended build. The headline change is per-device build variants: instead of one universal APK, the developer ships five compiler targets so the emulator can use newer ARM instruction sets on chips that support them.
| Build variant | Architecture | Who should use it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Armv8.2-A | Default choice — works on almost every 64-bit Android phone. |
| Optimized | Armv8.2-A | Same target as Standard but installs as a separate package, so it can live side-by-side with Standard for testing. |
| Legacy | Armv8-A | Older 64-bit devices that struggle with the newer builds. |
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / 8 Elite | Armv8.7-A | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 8 Elite phones. |
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Armv8.7-A | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 phones — enables SVE/SVE2 instruction sets. |
Fixes in pr.2
- Fixed cheats not working.
- Fixed possible NullReferenceException crashes.
- Vulkan: the feedback-loop restriction now targets Adreno 6xx/7xx GPUs specifically instead of applying broadly to the Qualcomm vendor string.
- Upgraded to Gradle 9.4.0 and refreshed dependencies.
Shared Vulkan improvements (with desktop)
- StorageImageExtendedFormats support, pageable device-local memory, and buffer alignment work.
- A8B8G8R8 texture format support.
2.1.0-pr.1 — the big feature release
Most of the Android-side features people use every day landed here, largely contributed by Android maintainer BeZide93:
- Emulation Service — keeps the game running in the background.
- Tablet / foldable fixes — corrected game screen layout on large screens.
- DLC & title updates autoload — point Kenji-NX at a folder and updates/DLC load automatically.
- Virtual controller upgrades — controller scale slider plus 6 selectable on-screen layouts.
- Xbox controllers — fixed L2/R2 triggers not working.
- Threaded rendering toggle — can be disabled to fix crashes in some games (at a performance cost).
- Save Manager — import/export saves as .zip files.
- Mod Manager — import and delete mods from inside the app.
- Cheat Manager — import cheats (fixed properly in pr.2).
- Amiibo quickslots — load up to 5 Amiibo files onto quickslots from the home screen.
- Home-screen shortcuts — long-press a game to pin it with a custom or app icon.
2.0.5 — Silksong, Turbo mode, desktop builds
The 2.0.5 update added compatibility with Hollow Knight: Silksong and a Turbo mode, and shipped desktop builds for Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), and Linux — Android followed shortly after. If you see 2.0.5 referenced in old guides, treat it as superseded: pr.2 is newer on Android.
Where do releases live now?
In February 2026 Nintendo sent DMCA takedown notices to GitHub covering Kenji-NX and twelve other Switch emulator projects, and the official Kenji-NX/Android-Releases repository was taken down. Development continues on self-hosted infrastructure (the project’s Forgejo instance). Our download page mirrors the current Android builds so you don’t have to hunt them down.
Should you use an old version?
Almost never. Emulator development is cumulative — pr.2 contains every fix from pr.1 and 2.0.5 plus new crash fixes. The only reason to keep an old APK around is testing: a game that regressed in a new build can be bisected by installing the Legacy or an older Standard build next to your daily driver (the Optimized variant’s separate package name makes this painless).
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest Kenji-NX version?
2.1.0-pr.2, released February 13, 2026. It is a pre-release, but it is the build the developer currently recommends testing.
Which build variant should I download?
Standard for almost everyone. Pick the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / 8 Elite or 8 Elite Gen 5 variant only if your phone actually has that chip; Legacy only for old 64-bit devices.
Where did the GitHub releases go?
Nintendo’s February 2026 DMCA notices took down the official GitHub repositories. The project now publishes from self-hosted infrastructure, and our download page mirrors the builds.
Is there a nightly or canary channel?
There is no formal nightly channel with that name. Pre-releases like pr.1 and pr.2 play that role — install the Optimized variant alongside Standard if you want to test new builds safely.