CVE-2021-28927: Libretro – A crossplatform application API, powering the crossplatform gaming platform RetroArch

New version of Lakka has been released!

We are happy to announce the new and updated version of Lakka. Read the full article here.

RetroArch 1.10.3 has just been released.

Grab it here.

If you’d like to learn more about upcoming releases, please consult our roadmap here.

Remember that this project exists for the benefit of our users, and that we wouldn’t keep doing this were it not for spreading the love to our users. This project exists because of your support and belief in us to keep going doing great things. We have always prioritized the endusers experience, and unlike others, we have never emburdened them with in-app ads, monetization SDKs or paywalled features, and we intend to continue to do so. If you’d like to show your support, consider donating to us. Check here in order to learn more. In addition to being able to support us on Patreon, there is now also the option to sponsor us on Github Sponsors! You can also help us out by buying some of our merch on our Teespring store!

Core Updates

FBNeo, LRMAME2003 Plus, UAE and VICE have seen the regular weekly updates/improvements. We can’t list all the changes there, so we just suggest you go to the respective Github repositories and check out the chanes there.

LRMAME

LRMAME updated to version 0.242 (latest). LRMAME is now also available for ARM Macs now. You can get it from the Core Downloader.

Nestopia

FourScore support (4 player multitap) has been added for the following games:

• Spacey McRacey
• NNNNNN
• Arkade Rush
• Justice Duel
• BMX Simulator
• Way of the Exploding Fist

PCSX ReARMed

This core has a new auto frameskip mode (based on free audio buffer space).

The Lightrec dynamic recompiler has been updated, and it should fix several crashes and bugs that occurred before. This would only affect users on x86/x86_64 and MIPS architecture processors, as ARM architecture-based systems continue to use the Ari64 dynarec instead.

There has been a GunCon overhaul, the following input descriptors have been added:

• Add Trigger, Reload, Aux A, and Aux B as mappable buttons in RetroArch menu for players 1 and 2.
• GunCon trigger, A, and B buttons are mapped to Gun Trigger, Gun Aux A, and Gun Aux B instead of hard coded to left click, right click, and middle click.
• Force cursor to corner of screen for offscreen reload so that reloading works on all four edges of the screen.
• Allow Gun Reload RetroArch input to emulate an offscreen shot.
• Switch gun coordinates from “Pointer” type to “Lightgun” type.

GW (Game & Watch)

The GW (Game & Watch) Libretro core is now available for the MSVC 2005 and 2010 Windows versions. These versions can run on older Windows OS versions than the regular version.

gpSP

The gpSP Libretro core now uses a small translation cache for the Miyoo platform.

Cap32

An emulator of the Amstrad CPC 8bit home computer range. This has seen several improvements.

• DB: new games from retroachievements
• UI: added DB icon DSK to status bar
• DB: you could add direct tokens using $ (for joystick keybinds or cleans)
• DB: added DB v1 using clean-cpc-db info
• CORE: added model 664 to allow DSK and BASIC 1.0
• CORE: detect some configurations from filename
• VIDEO: minor fixes (requires more work)

SMS Plus GX

The SMS Plus GX Libretro core should now be more stable on RetroArch PSP. We achieve this by avoiding unaligned memory access. Previously, after starting a game, the console would have a tendency to locks itself and shut down.

Other related changes – we replaced ALIGN_LONG with ALIGN_DWORD for Miyoo and RetroFW to match
the standalone versions. This fixes Master System background rendering. It was dropped from 3DS as ARMv6 allows unaligned memory access and defining that macro had no effect anyway. ALIGN_DWORD was dropped from Raspberry Pi (ARMv6/7/8), Classic (ARMv7), OS X non-PPC (x86, ARMv8), Vita (ARMv7) and Switch (ARMv8) as those platforms support unaligned memory access.

Beetle Virtual Boy

Fixed a couple inaccuracies in the VSU modulation emulation, fixing a few sound effects in “Virtual Boy Wario Land”.

Mesen

The Nintendo Entertainment System emulator core has seen a couple of improvements.

Before, the core would upload audio by using the audio batch callback multiple times per frame, unduly ‘stressing’ the frontend audio buffer and leading to poor AV synchronisation.

We now ensure that the audio batch callback is only used once per frame (unless the frontend does not support batches of sufficient size, in which case the samples will be split appropriately).

We also did the following:

• Sets the default audio sample rate to 48000 Hz. The previous default of 96000 Hz is so high that RetroArch is required to flush the audio driver twice per frame, which is bad for AV synchronisation.
• Removes the 192000 and 384000 sample rate options, since these are in fact unsupported by the underlying emulator code…

Add 4:3 (Preserved) & 16:9 (Preserved) aspect ratios
Mesen by default preserves the aspect ratio in all cases when cropping the overscan, which results in a difference between the core provided 4:3 and 16:9 ARs, and RetroArch’s own 4:3 and 16:9 ARs, which doesn’t always results in a ideal image (specifically 16:9 on a 16:9 display will look weird when cropping is applied).

We now separate Mesen’s preserved 4:3 and 16:9 ARs into their own selections for the core provided aspect ratio so people can choose whenever or not they want the aspect ratio to be preserved when using either one of the selections as their core provided aspect ratio.

bsnes Mercury/bsnes C++98

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System emulator core has seen a couple of improvements.

Before, the core(s) would upload audio in packets of 64 samples – which means the audio batch callback is used multiple times per frame, unduly ‘stressing’ the frontend audio buffer and leading to poor AV synchronisation.

We now ensure that the audio batch callback is only used once per frame.

REminiscence

This Flashback game engine core has now been added for the Miyoo platform as well.

ScummVM

Several serious crashes should be fixed now as a result of us updating the libco coroutines middleware library.

FCEUmm

This Nintendo Entertainment System emulator core has seen several improvements.

More mapper additions and improvements
Improve mappers 49, 215/258, 340, 341, 351 and 444. Add newly-(re)assigned mappers 294 and 310. Add new mapper 467.

Expose internal audio RF filter option
The core already contains a low pass audio filter designed to recreate the ‘muted’ sound of the NES when connected to a television via the RF modulator – but for some reason this functionality is not enabled/exposed.

We have simply wired it up to a new Audio RF Filter core option. When enabled, the (subjective) improvement in audio quality is quite dramatic. The filter has a negligible performance impact.

(This filter produces the effect discussed here: https://forums.libretro.com/t/lowpass-filtering-for-nes-rf/37258)

Add optional ‘fake’ stereo sound effect
We added a new Stereo Sound Effect core option which may be used to simulate stereo sound by delaying the right audio channel (relative to the left) when upmixing the mono output from the NES. The delay can be configured from 1 to 32 ms.

The effect is identical to the fake stereo currently available in the Mesen core.

minivmac

minivmac is an emulator for the Mini vMac, a miniature Macintosh. We added this core now for ARM Macs. It can be downloaded from the Core Downloader.

Genesis Plus GX

Genesis Plus GX is a Sega Master System/Sega Game Gear/Sega Megadrive/Sega Genesis emulator core.

We are using the low memory codepath now for Miyoo systems. As this platform only has 32MB RAM, like the RS-90.

xRick

The Rick Dangerous game engine core has been added for the Miyoo platform.

Snes9x 2005

This Super NIntendo Entertainment System emulator core has seen several improvements.

Before, the core had bad audio sample pacing:

• Neither variant of the core sent a number of samples per frame that would match the nominal expected values given by the sample rate and fps set in retro_get_system_av_info()
• Due to integer rounding errors, the non-plus core always would send too few samples
• The ‘plus’ version of the core would send the ‘correct’ number of samples, in terms of actual emulation – but this does not tally with the sample rate reported to the frontend. Moreover, the ‘plus’ core would call the audio batch callback twice per frame, which unduly stresses the frontend audio buffer.

As a result, the core had bad audio/video synchronisation, affecting frame pacing.

We fixed several issues:

• The audio sample rate is now reported as 32040 Hz
• The non-plus core uses an accumulator to ensure that ‘fractional’ audio samples are accounted for and sent when required
• The plus core now uploads audio samples only once per frame

In addition, we did the following

• Fixed three memory leaks that were found in the core
• Modified the Console Region core option to require a restart (since it has never been possible to change this at runtime…)

Snes9x2005 Non-Plus: Add optional low pass audio filter
Apart from a substantial difference in audio emulation accuracy, probably the most obvious difference between the ‘plus’ and ‘non-plus’ versions of the core is that the latter has an inadequate level of low pass audio filtering, leading to tinny/scratchy sound.

We added a simple optional low pass filter at the output stage of the ‘non-plus’ core. When enabled, audio is more mellow/bassy, and the generated sound is closer to that produced by the ‘plus’ version – with only a negligible increase in performance requirements.

Snes9x 2010

This Super NIntendo Entertainment System emulator core has seen several improvements.

Use audio batch callback only once per frame

Before, the core would upload samples in batches of ~64, which means the audio batch callback is used many (~9) times per frame. This ‘overstresses’ the frontend audio buffer and leads to bad AV synchronisation.

We have fixed the issue by ensuring that the audio batch callback is used to send all available samples only once per frame.

Improve save state efficiency + fix save state size

At present, every time that retro_serialize_size() is called (i.e whenever save states are used), the core determines the save state size by allocating a temporary 5 MB buffer and writing into this an actual save state. Moreover, it then fails to report the actual size correctly due to a bug in the memory stream wrapper code – which means save states are always 5 MB in size. This represents a terrible inefficiency.

Now, the save state size is now calculated independently of regular save state creation. No temporary buffer is required, and there is no need to actually write a save state to memory – and save states now have the correct size (~830 kb)

SwanStation

This Sony PlayStation1 emulator core has been updated.

• Remove ‘Force Pop’n Mode’ & ‘NeGcon Steering Axis Deadzone’ options

60Hz modes for > 60Hz emulated platforms

Big improvements for WonderSwan, Lynx and PokeMini emulator cores for the majority of systems that don’t happen to have VRR displays!

Beetle WonderSwan

At present the core runs at ~75Hz, matching the native refresh rate of the WonderSwan hardware. This is fine if the core is run on a VRR display (or one that natively supports 75Hz…), but on regular 60Hz panels it can cause issues. In particular, screen tearing is very likely to occur. You can experience this on Linux (when not using a compositor and without vsync forced at the driver level) and on 3DS. The tearing is so bad on 3DS that we would previously consider the core to be unusable on that platform…

We now added a new 60Hz Mode core option, which can be used to force the core to run at 60Hz (actually 60.38Hz, but RetroArch handles this nicely via dynamic rate control). Note that the core still runs at the ‘correct’ speed when this option is enabled – internally, the core is running the nominal ~75 frames per second, but every 5th frame is ‘dropped’. This reduces video smoothness, but then 75Hz on a 60Hz display is not smooth either. More importantly, enabling this option eliminates screen tearing.

In addition, we have also made the following minor changes:

• The frontend reported framerate is now set correctly in 75Hz mode (previously this was truncated, leading to a slight tendency for the frontend audio buffer to under-run)
• The internal audio samples buffer has been reduced from a ~64kb (!) static array to a tiny, dynamically created array of just the correct size
• On 3DS, the video buffers are now allocated in linear memory (for improved performance)
• The 96000, 192000 and 384000 audio sample rate options have been removed, because they are nonsensical and harm AV synchronisation

Thanks to this 60Hz mode, Beetle WonderSwan is now perfectly playable on RetroArch 3DS. We have enabled this option by default. If you are using a VRR display or if you are running at a native 75Hz resolution and would like to change it back to the native refresh rate, you can just turn this option off in Quick Menu -> Options.

We have also added the core for RetroArch PS2, although it can’t reach fullspeed. It’s debatable whether it’s worth including, but for now we keep it in.

There is also a new optional audio feature. The WonderSwan has a tendency to produce rather harsh/abrasive chiptunes. The low pass audio filter softens and ‘mellows out’ the generated sound.

PokeMini

At present the core runs at 72Hz, matching the native refresh rate of the Pokemon Mini hardware. This is fine if the core is run on a VRR display (or one that natively supports 72Hz…), but on regular 60Hz panels it can cause issues. In particular, screen tearing is very likely to occur. We could experience this on Linux (when not using a compositor and without vsync forced at the driver level) and on 3DS.

We have now added a new 60Hz Mode core option (enabled by default), which can be used to force the core to run at 60Hz. Note that the core still runs at the ‘correct’ speed when this option is enabled – internally, the core is running the nominal 72 frames per second, but every 6th frame is ‘dropped’. This reduces video smoothness, but then 72Hz on a 60Hz display is not smooth either (and few Pokemon Mini games are ‘smooth’ to begin with…). More importantly, enabling this option eliminates screen tearing.

Handy

This Atari Lynx emulator core has seen several big improvements.

Fix frame pacing
Before, this core had entirely broken frame pacing. The core reported a fixed refresh rate of 75Hz to the frontend, but the Lynx (and the internal emulation code) has a variable refresh rate of 0-75Hz; games can render at any rate they please. In retro_run(), the Lynx is always emulated until the next ‘end of frame’ event occurs – if a game renders at e.g. 25 fps, this means retro_run() will actually correspond to (1/25) seconds worth of Lynx runtime instead of the expected (1/75) seconds. In this case, the game is emulated too quickly – but it appears to run at the correct speed in the frontend because the core uploads an ‘oversized’ audio buffer (1/25 seconds worth of samples). RetroArch syncs on audio in such a way that when too many samples are received, the frontend runs in ‘slow motion’ – so the ‘too fast emulation’ + ‘too many audio samples’ effectively cancel out. But the results are awful. This is a significant violation of the libretro API, and it destroys the frontend’s ability to properly synchronise audio and video, and to pace the frames correctly.

We now modified the run loop such that a fixed number of CPU cycles are emulated on each call of retro_run(), corresponding to the actual frontend output video refresh rate (which can be set via a new Video Refresh Rate core option). Thus the Lynx is always emulated at the correct speed, audio is always uploaded in batches of the correct size, and generated video frames are captured and output when available (and when the frontend can accept them).

The default Video Refresh Rate has been set to 60Hz, which provides smooth results for most games (and also eliminates screen tearing on 60Hz displays, which was an issue when the core only reported a 75Hz refresh rate). If a game has a higher frame rate than this (rare, but e.g. the intro and menus of California Games run at the full 75 fps), then ‘excess’ frames will be dropped. Users with 75Hz+ VRR displays can set higher refresh rates to improve video smoothness in these cases.

Improve save state efficiency
Before, the retro_serialize() function determines the save state size by allocating a temporary ~310kb buffer, writing an actual save state into it, then fetching the resultant buffer occupancy. This is terribly inefficient – and retro_serialize() is called 3 times every time a state is saved or loaded…

We modified the serialisation memory stream code to allow a ‘virtual’ save state to be made – no buffer is required, and no data are copied. This means retro_serialize() can now fetch the save state size with no memory allocations and no wasted effort.

Add optional LCD ghosting filter

We added a new LCD Ghosting Filter core option which can be used to apply an LCD ghosting effect by blending multiple successive frames. The number of blended frames can be set from 2-4; using more frames improves the quality of the effect at the expense of increased performance requirements.

LCD ghosting is particularly beneficial for the Lynx because many games run at very low frame rates, and some blurring helps to smooth out the frequently ‘jerky’ screen updates.

RetroArch Updates

See the Changelog below for a detailed breakdown of all the changes that have happened.

One of the biggest changes for Steam users by far is the new Steam Discord Rich Presence support. NOTE: You will need to use the desktop client in order for this to work. It won’t work with the webbrowser client.

Changelog

1.10.3

• ANDROID: Decouple Play Core dependency to bring app into compliance for F-Droid
• AI/SERVICE: Disable AI Service setting by default
• BLUETOOTH/LAKKA: bluetoothctl: add / modify pairing steps
• CHEEVOS: Disallow manual frame delay setting in Hardcore Mode
• DATABASE: Serial scanning for Wii now includes WBFS
• INPUT/MAPPING: Fix offset + crash when clearing input port binds
• INPUT/MAPPING: Fix saving of ‘Analog to Digital Type’ when configuration overrides are used
• LOCALIZATION: Add Valencian language option
• LOCALIZATION: Updates
• MENU/SETTINGS: Move ‘Show Menu Bar’ under ‘Windowed Mode’ settings
• MENU/SETTINGS: Add sublabels for ‘Subsystems’ and ‘Input Deadzone/Sensitivity’
• MENU/SETTINGS: Move ‘On-Screen Notifications’ to top
• MENU/XMB: Unified the shadow alpha value to a slightly darker one for better readability
• MENU/XMB: Corrected the option label and sublabel for actual behavior
• MIYOO: Enable ALSA audio driver and default to it
• PSP: Take out extra languages/localization, adds about 4/5MB to the binary, and RAM is limited on PSP (32MB and 64MB RAM models)
• STATIC PLATFORMS: Populate all history list metadata when launching content from playlists
• STEAM: Introduce Steam Rich Presence
• VIDEO: Fast-Forward Frameskip improvement
• VIDEO/THREADED: Stability fixes
• WINDOWS/WINRAW: Fix multiple light guns
• WIIU: Fix USB get_device_name(), don’t truncate to three chars

New version of Lakka has been released!

We are happy to announce the new and updated version of Lakka. Read the full article here.

New version of Lakka has been released!

We are happy to announce the new and updated version of Lakka. Read the full article here.

RetroArch 1.10.2 has just been released.

Grab it here.

If you’d like to learn more about upcoming releases, please consult our roadmap here.

Remember that this project exists for the benefit of our users, and that we wouldn’t keep doing this were it not for spreading the love to our users. This project exists because of your support and belief in us to keep going doing great things. We have always prioritized the endusers experience, and unlike others, we have never emburdened them with in-app ads, monetization SDKs or paywalled features, and we intend to continue to do so. If you’d like to show your support, consider donating to us. Check here in order to learn more. In addition to being able to support us on Patreon, there is now also the option to sponsor us on Github Sponsors! You can also help us out by buying some of our merch on our Teespring store!

Highlights****Big improvements for Steam and Steam Deck users

We’re gearing up for Steam Deck, and in the process we are finally starting to turn the RetroArch Steam version into something more than just a plain port (courtesy of Mats).

We came up with a SteamWorks shim that allows RetroArch Steam to interface with the Steamworks API. Mist, our middleware tool, runs in a separate process, runs concurrently wtih RetroArch Steam, and functions as a bridge between this separate process interfacing with Steamworks and the GPL application itself running in an entirely different process. This is 100% GPL compliant and the same approach has been employed by numerous other examples on Steam, including the aforementioned Icculus.

Thanks to Mist, here are some of the big new features for Steam users (and in particular, Steam Deck users):

• You can now install and uninstall cores directly from inside RetroArch by going to ‘Manage Cores’ from inside the menu. No longer do you have to manually browse Steam with your webbrowser and download random core DLCs for RetroArch, you can do it from within the convenience of the app running itself.
• On Steam Deck, the native OSK (Onscreen Keyboard) will appear now instead of the RetroArch default OSK. This should give a more seamless experience. We have decided against enabling the Steam OSK with Big Picture since it seems partially broken and instantly dismisses itself (or at least those were our testing results on a Steam Deck).

As a result of these changes, the Steam port is starting to become its own thing rather than just a straightforward no-frills port of the Windows/Linux versions.

Improved audio sample pacing / latency in many cores

Big improvements have been made to several cores concerning improved audio latency and audio sample pacing.

Not only should performance be better, but you should also be able to lower audio latency buffers now while still getting perfect sound.

Here are some of the cores that have received work recently on this front:

• Cannonball
• Flycast
• Gambatte
• Nestopia
• Snes9x
• Snes9x 2002
• Snes9x 2005
• Snes9x 2010
• SwanStation
• UAE
• VICE

For example, frame time deviations in a core like Snes9x 2010 are now extremely low with a default 64ms audio buffer. We measured 0.4 to 0.3% deviation, and this figure could likely be optimized even further by fiddling some more with audio buffer latency, or changing the audio driver.

Other measures have also been taken to further improve audio latency. Some cores have been updated now so that audio gets pushed to the frontend (i.e. RetroArch) AFTER the video frame has been uploaded. This is just in case the audio upload blocks for too long due to audio processing and syncing performed by the frontend. Uploading the video frame as soon as possible after the emulation loop is generally a good idea since it potentially avoids unnecessary input latency.

Steps have also been taken in cores to minimise use of the audio batch callback (for example, Tyrquake and Snes9x 2010), leading to better audio sample pacing, less overhead and better overall performance.

For Miyoo users

The following cores have been added for Miyoo platform users:

• BlueMSX
• ECWolf
• FCEUmm

For OpenDingux users

The following cores have been added for OpenDingux platform users:

• Dinothawr
• NXEngine
• XRick

UI/UX improvements

RGUI, MaterialUI and Ozone menu drivers now have new color themes. ‘Gray Dark / Gray Light’ themes have been added.

For XMB users, vertical fade adjustments have been made so that it functions a bit better like the original. Title margin can now also be adjusted, so that the title won’t cut off anymore on display devices with overscan (i.e. CRT TVs).

For RGUI users, 6×10 extended ASCII and Latin Extended A and B fonts have been added. These will enable most Latin alphabets to be displayed in RGUI.

For Ozone users, a thumbnail scaling option has been added (Settings->User interface->Appearance). This option scales the size of the thumbnail sidebar, which in turns means the thumbnails are scaled along with it. It should scale the thumbnails so that they should fill up more screen real estate now in the right sidebar. See the picture below for an example.

Manage Input Remapping Files

1.10.2 adds a new Manage Remap Files submenu to Quick Menu > Controls:

This updates correctly in real-time (the previous save/remove remap menu entries do not…), and only shows relevant options. When removing a remap, existing files are re-scanned and the one with the next highest priority (if found) will be loaded.

In addition, the currently active remap file will be saved automatically when closing content – i.e. it is no longer necessary (or indeed possible!) to save the file manually after each change.

We have also added a new Reset Input Mapping entry under Quick Menu > Controls > Manage Remap Files:

We have also fixed a nasty bug that could cause remap file corruption (incorrect or unwanted entries) when saving a remap after resetting one or more binds.

Prevent ‘global’ configuration of input libretro device type

Before, RetroArch allowed the input ‘libretro device type’ to be set globally per-user. This was nonsensical for a couple of reasons:

• Input device type has no meaning unless a core is actually running, so the option to set it globally does nothing but confuse users
• A global device type may be set that is incompatible with cores, leading to disabled input in-game. e.g. setting the global type to ‘RetroPad with Analog’ breaks Beetle PSX, since that is not a valid device type recognised by the core

1.10.2 fixes the issue by:

• Removing the global option Settings > Input > Port N Controls > Device Type (device type can now only be set while a core is running, via Quick Menu > Controls > Port N Controls)
• Ensuring that the ‘global’ device type is reset to the default RETRO_DEVICE_JOYPAD on startup and when closing cores (unless a device type override is set via the existing command line interface)

Note that device type is no longer stored in the main RetroArch config file, only in input remap files.

WiiU – Optimize for Gamepad

RetroArch WiiU adds a new option (Settings -> Video -> Output -> Optimize for GamePad). When enabled, it uses a 960p viewport if the user is on either 720p or 1080p (if they’re on 480p, they’re already optimized for GamePad). It defaults to off, so the native TV resolution is still preferred out of the box.

Explanation

The Wii U is a weird case with RetroArch because of the two screens (TV and Wii U GamePad). The Wii U can be configured to output video at 480p, 720p or 1080p (or interlaced equivalents), whereas the GamePad has a native 480-line display. While it is possible to send different images to the TV and GamePad, RetroArch currently sends the same image to both. This creates a bit of a conundrum as 480 does not divide evenly into any of the other available resolutions.

When running 240p content, setting the Wii U to 720p just works, because a 3x integer scale (240*3 = 720) on the TV also happens to be a 2x integer scale (240*2 = 480) on the GamePad. However, when running 480p content, having the Wii U set to 720p will result in a poor image all around, with non-integer scaling from 480->720 on the TV, and then even worse, 480->720->480 on the GamePad.

Running the Wii U at 1080p, you get the worst of all worlds. Absolutely nothing divides evenly into 1080, so no matter what content you’re playing, you’ll need either large borders or a filter/shader to stretch to that non-integer resolution, and putting that 1080p image back on the 480p GamePad makes it even worse again. Many users only use 720p because of the poor results you get from 1080p currently.

By running 1080p with a 960p viewport, you can do things like a 4x integer scale of 240p content which becomes a 2x integer scale on the GamePad, or a 2x scale of 480p content which becomes a 1x native display on the GamePad. Even more exotic resolutions like the Game Boy Advance (160p) are enhanced, with 160 dividing 6x into 960 or 3x into 480. This one change makes 1080p a lot less useless on Wii U.

• when “Optimize for Gamepad” is OFF: use the system output resolution (previous behavior)
• when “Optimize for Gamepad” is ON, pick the closest resolution based on the system resolution

And more

Not listed here of course are all the countless improvements made to individual cores since the last version. We might go into more detail on that sometime later, but rest be assured that cores are updated on a daily basis and receive heavy improvements, so keep updating your core library to get the latest benefits at all times!

Changelog

1.10.2

• 3DS: Add a menu toggle for switching between old and new 3DS speeds, located in the ‘Power Management’ menu. Enabled by default, hidden on old 3DS devices.
• AUDIO/MIXER: Free audio voices properly
• CHEEVOS: Update to rcheevos 10.3.3
• CHEEVOS: Support for Arduboy
• CHEEVOS: Fix tab sequences in rich presence being turned into t character
• CHEEVOS: Fix overflow when parsing float value that has more than 9 digits after the decimal
• CHEEVOS: Fix memory mapping when disconnect mask breaks a region into multiple blocks
• CORES: Enable manual selection of which cores are displayed in the ‘Standalone Cores’ menu
• DATABASE/EXPLORE: Added more categories to the Explore menu
• INPUT: Fix analog stick not working with ‘Unified Menu Controls’
• INPUT/MAPPING: Add ‘Manage Remap Files’ submenu + automatically save input remaps when closing content
• INPUT/MAPPING: Add ‘Reset Input Mapping’ option to ‘Manage Remap Files’ menu
• INPUT/MAPPING: Fix keyboard device remap nulling
• IOS/IOS13+: Support a toolbar that allows toggling of onscreen keyboard and touch mouse
• LIBRETRO: RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SHUTDOWN fix – ensure core is properly unloaded when RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SHUTDOWN is called
• LIBRETRO: RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SHUTDOWN fix – ensure menu stack is properly flushed when RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SHUTDOWN is called
• LINUX/MALI FBDEV: Fix segfault switching video threaded from quickmenu
• LOCALIZATION: Add Czech language support
• MMAP: Handle disconnect bits on both sides of len
• MIYOO: Improve CPU architecture and model name identification for Miyoo
• MENU/SETTINGS: Remove ‘Advanced Settings’ flag from ‘Settings > Core’ menu
• MENU/MATERIALUI: Add ‘Gray Dark + Light’ themes
• MENU/RGUI: Add 6×10 extended ASCII and Latin Extended A and B fonts. These will enable most Latin alphabets to be displayed in RGUI.
• MENU/RGUI: Add ‘Gray Dark + Light’ themes
• MENU/XMB: Add title margin adjustment
• MENU/XMB: Vertical fade corrections
• MENU/OZONE: The size of the thumbnail bar can now be changed though a new option (Settings->User interface->Appearance) up to double its normal size.
• MENU/OZONE: Add ‘Gray Dark + Light’ themes
• MENU/OZONE: Add thumbnail scale option
• HOTKEYS: Added hotkey for toggling sync to exact content framerate
• HOTKEYS: Prevent log spam when using rewind hotkey with cores that don’t support rewind, if rewind functionality itself is disabled
• HOTKEYS: Add hotkey for toggling sync to exact content framerate
• PS3/PSL1GHT: Add RSX graphics support
• PS3/PSL1GHT: Add libco support
• PS3/PSL1GHT: Add experimental PSMove support
• RS90: Optimise layout of sdl_rs90_video
• STEAM: Use native OSK (Onscreen Keyboard) instead of built-in RetroArch version
• STEAM: New built-in core DLC downloader
• STEAM: Swap OK/Cancel buttons by default
• VIDEO/HDR: Removed redundant copy of buffer in HDR mode if the shader has already a HDR format i.e. R10G10B10A2 (updated Vulkan/D3D11/D3D12 drivers)
• VIDEO/HDR: Fixed crash when using stock shader and HDR and previous optimisation
• WAYLAND: Dynamically load libdecor at runtime
• WAYLAND: Fix splash screen when using xdg_toplevel
• WAYLAND: SHM anti-collision for the splash screen
• WAYLAND: Skip splash screen if window is not ready
• WII: Fix find_connection_entry(): needs unsigned int Otherwise the USB gamepad cannot be found, if VID/PID has leading zero. This issue happened with Retrode gamepad adapter
• WII: Rework Retrode gamepad implementation to support multi_pad interface
• WII: Fix – Unplugging and re-plugging now works again
• WII: vWii- Only gamepad 1 is supported, because multi_pad is currently only relevant in the Wii U implementation
• WIIU: Implemented the multi_pad interface according to input/connect/connect_wiiugca.c
• WIIU: Add Optimize for Gamepad option
• WIIU: Fix USB gamepad support

Original article here.

New version of Lakka has been released!

We are happy to announce the new and updated version of Lakka.

Release summary

Changes since version 3.7:

• Build system based on LibreELEC 10.0.2
• RetroArch updated to 1.10.1
• Cores updated to their most recent versions
• superbroswar: added new libretro core
• sameduck: added new libretro core
• Mesa updated to 22.0.0
• Mainline kernel updated to 5.10.103 (PC, Amlogic, Allwinner, NXP)
• Raspberry kernel updated to 5.10.95
• Most ARM devices switched to aarch64
  Rockchip RK3288, RK3328 and RK3399 switched to mainline kernel 5.10.76
• Added support for additional Allwinner and Amlogic devices (not tested on our side, as we do not own many of these devices)
• Nintendo Switch: complete rewrite of the port with many fixes and enhancements
• Tinkerboard and MiQi now use common system RK3288 (hence the change of the image names); you need to place empty file named .nocompat in the /storage/.update folder / Update Samba share
• Dropped support for RPi4.arm

This is our first release with the updated build system. We tried to port all our changes to this new build system, but we might have missed some of our optimizations and enhancements. Please report us any regression or missing features or drivers via our issue tracker.

Not all platforms have been ported to the new build system yet. For these platforms we have released a maintenance update (3.7.1) with RetroArch and libretro cores updated to the same versions as in 4.0 release. Lakka users with Hardkernel’s Odroid XU3/4, Odroid Go Advance / Super, and Anbernic’s RG351M / RG351P / RG351MP / RG351V devices get update as well.

Known issues

See GitHub for information about currently open bugs and issues and also for possible workarounds for these bugs/issues.

Final notes

You can download the latest release from Lakka download page. If you want to follow the development of Lakka more closely, you can download latest Lakka nightly builds.

If you want to show your support for further development of the Libretro projects and ecosystem, you can learn more here.

Happy retro-gaming!

Libretro and its various contributors have certainly been busy these past few weeks. We bring to you a wide range of new cores, available for use in RetroArch, and/or any other Libretro-compatible frontend.

a5200

The a5200 core is an optimised Atari 5200 emulator based on Atari800 2.0.2. Originally developed for the GCW Zero, it runs full speed on even the weakest hardware (e.g. o3DS) – yet with a design focussed on ease of use and tight libretro integration it provides a simple ‘plug and play’ solution for Atari 5200 content on all platforms. The core debuts with robust input handling (including analog and number pad entry), audio filtering, CRT ghosting effects, an optional internal open-source BIOS and full save state support. Further enhancements are planned over the coming weeks.

WASM-4

WASM-4 is a low-level fantasy game console for building small games with WebAssembly. Game cartridges (ROMs) are small, self-contained .wasm files that can be built with any programming language that compiles to #WebAssembly.

You can now play these games/programs from within RetroArch, or any other Libretro-compatible frontend.

You can find more information at here.

Arduous

A Libretro core for the #Arduboy. The Arduboy is a handheld game console with open source software, based on the Arduino hardware platform.

SAME_CDi

SONY DSC

SAME CDi is a S(ingle) A(rcade) M(achine) E(mulator) for libretro, forked from MAME libretro, which is in turn a fork of MAME. It includes only the Philips CD-i driver, and simplifies the loading of CD content to provide a ‘plug and play’ experience. It emulates exclusively the Philips CD-i game console/settop box device from the early ’90s.

You can find more information at here and here.

Jump ‘n Bump

Jump ‘n Bump has finally been ported to Libretro/RetroArch. This is a game for the whole family. You play as a cute fluffy little bunnies and hop on each other’s heads.

At the beginning you are in the menu, where you have to let each active player jump over the tree trunk to enter the play area, and then walk to the right. You will then enter the arena. The aim is to jump on the other bunnies’ heads…

Jump ‘n Bump was originally a DOS game by Brainchild Design, which was open sourced under the GPL license and ported to SDL, and then SDL2.

How to use it
You can play Jump ‘n Bump by loading one of the .DAT files (levels) from Load Content. A fair few of them are available on Libretro/RetroArch’s ‘Content Downloader’.