A new way to run hosted SWF files
itch.io has restored support for Flash games using Ruffle, the open-source emulator. The platform’s November 5 developer announcement says the old swfobject embed has been replaced by an iframe that runs a game’s SWF file through Ruffle in the browser.
The change covers existing projects as well as new SWF uploads. According to the platform, developers with an existing Flash project do not need to make a change to receive the replacement embed.
Where players and creators can look
Players can browse the platform’s Flash-game collection through the linked category page. Creators can check their hosted project with the replacement player; the announcement identifies the November 3 nightly Ruffle build as the version in use when the post was written.
Compatibility remains a qualification. itch.io notes that games with site-locks may require additional work and invites reports of games that fail. The platform’s update is not a promise that every historical Flash game, external service or saved session has been restored.
An itch.io change, rather than a new Flash release
Ruffle is an emulator maintained as a separate open-source project. This announcement concerns itch.io’s integration of it. It should not be read as a new Adobe Flash Player release or as confirmation that a particular game has been tested successfully here.
