In what marks a notable return for the emulator that transformed gaming, zsKnight, its creator, finally speaks out after 24 years.

In 1997, alongside a friend, he launched ZSNES, a Super Nintendo emulator that astonished gamers with its speed, even on basic PCs.

“When I was 16 years old, I started learning assembly, captivated by optimization to make everything as rapid as possible,” zsKnight shared during his recent interview.

“I started coding everything in pure assembly — until the Windows port, there was not a single line of C code in there.”

Back then, emulating the SNES was a herculean task given the slower processors of the time. ZSNES managed to overcome these hurdles and became a beloved tool among retro gamers.

Despite its success, zsKnight kept his identity under wraps. He celebrated the emulator’s launch with friends without revealing his involvement, stating, “those guys who made it must be pretty amazing people.”

The iconic snowy interface of ZSNES was a happy accident, designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia and peace when navigating the menu.

“Most people thought it was a thoughtful design choice, but I only worked on it for an hour!”

Finally, after years away from the public eye, he has begun pursuing indie game development, releasing ‘Retro Endurance 8bit,’ a collection of fast-paced mini-games inspired by classic experiences.

For more insights into zsKnight’s journey and the legacy of ZSNES, check out the full interview on YouTube.