Epilogue, the maker of the GB Operator dock that lets you use the Game Boy Camera as a webcam, recently announced the SN Operator cartridge reader and has opened pre-orders for the $59 device. The company says this USB-C gadget will read SNES cartridges, allowing you to play your collection on your PC or handheld console via the Playback in-app emulator compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The SN Operator dock also makes it easy to back up your saves and game data on your computer. This is particularly important as the SNES is already 35 years old, with many game cartridges failing simply because of age. But aside from just reading the cartridge contents and backing up your extensive library, you can also use this USB-C reader to write new save files. This means you can play your SNES games on your PC, Mac, or even handheld consoles like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally and keep your progress on the original game cartridge.

Nintendo is, of course, known for blocking emulators that promote ROM distribution and the unauthorized copying of games, but given that the SN Operator (and the older GB Operator) is specifically designed for personal, non-commercial use and for backing up legally owned cartridges, we hope that the company won’t take steps to kill this product that’s intended to lengthen the lifespan of the game libraries of Nintendo’s biggest fans.

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Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.