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RetroArch is an open source and cross platform frontend/framework for emulators.

Website: https://www.retroarch.com/

Github: https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch

RetroArch Wiki: https://docs.libretro.com/

RetroArch FAQ: https://www.retroarch.com/?page=faq

RetroArch Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started with RetroArch

  2. Common Issues

  3. RetroArch Tips and Tricks

  4. RetroArch Cores

Getting Started with RetroArch

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RetroArch Configuration

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  • Type of Emulator: Flatpak
  • Config Location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch
    • The cheats, config, cores, saves, and shaders folder are located here
  • Storage Location: Emulation/storage/retroarch
    • Contains: cheats
  • ROMs: Refer to the Cheat Sheet
  • BIOS: Refer to the Cheat Sheet
  • Saves:
    • Symlink: Emulation/saves/retroarch/saves
    • Target Location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/saves/
  • Save States:
    • Symlink: Emulation/saves/retroarch/states
    • Target Location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/states/
  • Systems Location: Emulation/bios
    • Libretro wikis or guides may mention either placing your files into a System folder or creating a folder in the System directory. Though Emulation/bios is not named System, treat it as the System folder for RetroArch
      • For example, the Libretro wiki page for Dreamcast expects you to create a dc folder in RetroArch's system directory. Instead, create a dc folder in Emulation/bios and place any required files in Emulation/bios/dc
        • Dreamcast Example

Note: ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.

Works With

  • Steam Rom Manager
  • EmulationStation-DE

RetroArch Folder Locations

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These file locations apply regardless of where you chose to install EmuDeck (to your internal SSD, to your SD Card, or elsewhere). Some emulator configuration files will be located on the internal SSD as listed below.

$HOME refers to your home folder. If you are on a Steam Deck, this folder will be named /home/deck (you will likely not see deck in the file path when navigating using the file manager).

Paths beginning with Emulation/.. correspond to your EmuDeck install location. If you installed on an SD Card, your path may be /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/roms/... If you installed on your internal SSD, your path may be /home/deck/Emulation/roms/..

Note: Folders with a . (.var, .local, .config, etc.) at the beginning are hidden by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.

$HOME/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch

org.libretro.RetroArch
├── cache
├── config
│   ├── pulse
│   └── retroarch
│       ├── assets
│       ├── autoconfig
│       ├── cheats
│       ├── config
│       │   ├── Beetle Cygne
│       │   ├── Beetle Lynx
│       │   ├── Beetle NeoPop
│       │   ├── Beetle PCE
│       │   ├── Beetle PCE Fast
│       │   ├── Beetle PSX
│       │   ├── Beetle PSX HW
│       │   ├── Beetle Saturn
│       │   ├── Beetle SuperGrafx
│       │   ├── Beetle WonderSwan
│       │   ├── blueMSX
│       │   ├── bsnes-hd beta
│       │   ├── dolphin_emu
│       │   ├── DOSBox-pure
│       │   ├── DOSBox Pure
│       │   ├── FinalBurn Neo
│       │   ├── Flycast
│       │   ├── Gambatte
│       │   ├── Gearsystem
│       │   ├── Genesis Plus GX
│       │   ├── Handy
│       │   ├── Hatari
│       │   ├── Kronos
│       │   ├── MAME
│       │   ├── MAME 2003-Plus
│       │   ├── melonDS
│       │   ├── Mesen
│       │   ├── mGBA
│       │   ├── Mupen64Plus-Next
│       │   ├── NeoCD
│       │   ├── Nestopia
│       │   ├── ParaLLEl N64
│       │   ├── PicoDrive
│       │   ├── PPSSPP
│       │   ├── PUAE
│       │   ├── remaps
│       │   │   └── Gambatte
│       │   ├── SameBoy
│       │   ├── Snes9x
│       │   ├── Stella
│       │   ├── SwanStation
│       │   ├── VICE x64
│       │   ├── VICE x64sc
│       │   ├── VICE xscpu64
│       │   ├── VICE xvic
│       │   ├── YabaSanshiro
│       │   └── Yabause
│       ├── cores
│       ├── database
│       │   └── rdb
│       ├── downloads
│       │   └── core_backups
│       │       ├── 81_libretro
│       │       ├── a5200_libretro
│       │       ├── atari800_libretro
│       │       ├── bluemsx_libretro
│       │       ├── bsnes_hd_beta_libretro
│       │       ├── bsnes_libretro
│       │       ├── cap32_libretro
│       │       ├── citra2018_libretro
│       │       ├── citra_libretro
│       │       ├── desmume_libretro
│       │       ├── dosbox_core_libretro
│       │       ├── dosbox_svn_libretro
│       │       ├── easyrpg_libretro
│       │       ├── fbalpha2012_cps1_libretro
│       │       ├── fbalpha2012_cps2_libretro
│       │       ├── fbalpha2012_cps3_libretro
│       │       ├── fbalpha2012_neogeo_libretro
│       │       ├── fbneo_libretro
│       │       ├── fceumm_libretro
│       │       ├── flycast_libretro
│       │       ├── fmsx_libretro
│       │       ├── gambatte_libretro
│       │       ├── genesis_plus_gx_libretro
│       │       ├── genesis_plus_gx_wide_libretro
│       │       ├── gpsp_libretro
│       │       ├── handy_libretro
│       │       ├── hatari_libretro
│       │       ├── kronos_libretro
│       │       ├── lutro_libretro
│       │       ├── mame2000_libretro
│       │       ├── mame2003_plus_libretro
│       │       ├── mame2010_libretro
│       │       ├── mame_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_lynx_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_ngp_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_pce_fast_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_pce_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_pcfx_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_psx_hw_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_psx_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_saturn_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_supergrafx_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_vb_libretro
│       │       ├── mednafen_wswan_libretro
│       │       ├── melonds_libretro
│       │       ├── mesen_libretro
│       │       ├── mgba_libretro
│       │       ├── mu_libretro
│       │       ├── mupen64plus_next_libretro
│       │       ├── neocd_libretro
│       │       ├── nestopia_libretro
│       │       ├── np2kai_libretro
│       │       ├── nxengine_libretro
│       │       ├── o2em_libretro
│       │       ├── parallel_n64_libretro
│       │       ├── pcsx2_libretro
│       │       ├── pcsx_rearmed_libretro
│       │       ├── picodrive_libretro
│       │       ├── ppsspp_libretro
│       │       ├── prboom_libretro
│       │       ├── prosystem_libretro
│       │       ├── puae_libretro
│       │       ├── px68k_libretro
│       │       ├── quasi88_libretro
│       │       ├── quicknes_libretro
│       │       ├── race_libretro
│       │       ├── same_cdi_libretro
│       │       ├── scummvm_libretro
│       │       ├── snes9x2010_libretro
│       │       ├── snes9x_libretro
│       │       ├── stella2014_libretro
│       │       ├── stella_libretro
│       │       ├── swanstation_libretro
│       │       ├── tic80_libretro
│       │       ├── tyrquake_libretro
│       │       ├── vbam_libretro
│       │       ├── vba_next_libretro
│       │       ├── vecx_libretro
│       │       ├── vice_x128_libretro
│       │       ├── vice_x64_libretro
│       │       ├── vice_x64sc_libretro
│       │       ├── vice_xscpu64_libretro
│       │       ├── vice_xvic_libretro
│       │       ├── vitaquake2_libretro
│       │       ├── vitaquake2-rogue_libretro
│       │       ├── vitaquake2-xatrix_libretro
│       │       ├── vitaquake2-zaero_libretro
│       │       ├── vitaquake3_libretro
│       │       ├── wasm4_libretro
│       │       └── yabause_libretro
│       ├── filters
│       │   ├── audio
│       │   └── video
│       ├── layouts
│       ├── logs
│       ├── overlay
│       ├── overlays
│       │   └── pegasus
│       ├── playlists
│       │   └── logs
│       │       ├── Beetle Lynx
│       │       ├── Beetle PCE
│       │       ├── Beetle PSX
│       │       ├── Beetle Saturn
│       │       ├── Beetle SuperGrafx
│       │       ├── blueMSX
│       │       ├── Gambatte
│       │       ├── Handy
│       │       ├── MAME (Git)
│       │       ├── melonDS
│       │       ├── mGBA
│       │       ├── Mupen64Plus-Next
│       │       ├── ParaLLEl N64
│       │       └── Snes9x
│       ├── records
│       ├── records_config
│       ├── saves
│       │   └── mame
│       │       ├── cfg
│       │       └── nvram
│       ├── screenshots
│       ├── shaders
│       │   └── shaders_slang
│       │       ├── anamorphic
│       │       ├── anti-aliasing
│       │       ├── auto-box
│       │       ├── bezel
│       │       ├── blurs
│       │       ├── border
│       │       ├── cel
│       │       ├── crt
│       │       ├── cubic
│       │       ├── ddt
│       │       ├── deblur
│       │       ├── denoisers
│       │       ├── dithering
│       │       ├── eagle
│       │       ├── film
│       │       ├── fsr
│       │       ├── gpu
│       │       ├── handheld
│       │       ├── hdr
│       │       ├── hqx
│       │       ├── include
│       │       ├── interpolation
│       │       ├── linear
│       │       ├── misc
│       │       ├── motionblur
│       │       ├── motion-interpolation
│       │       ├── nedi
│       │       ├── nes_raw_palette
│       │       ├── nnedi3
│       │       ├── ntsc
│       │       ├── omniscale
│       │       ├── pal
│       │       ├── presets
│       │       ├── procedural
│       │       ├── quad
│       │       ├── reshade
│       │       ├── sabr
│       │       ├── scalefx
│       │       ├── scalehq
│       │       ├── scalenx
│       │       ├── scanlines
│       │       ├── sharpen
│       │       ├── spec
│       │       ├── stereoscopic-3d
│       │       ├── test
│       │       ├── vhs
│       │       ├── warp
│       │       ├── windowed
│       │       ├── xbr
│       │       ├── xbrz
│       │       ├── xsal
│       │       └── xsoft
│       ├── states
│       ├── system
│       └── thumbnails
└── data

How to Update RetroArch And Its Cores

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How to Update RetroArch

  • Update through Discover (Shopping bag icon)
  • Through the Update your Emulators & Tools section on the Manage Emulators page in the EmuDeck application

How to Update RetroArch Cores

  1. Open RetroArch
  2. Open the Main Menu
  3. Scroll down and select Online Updater
  4. Select Update Installed Cores

Visual Reference:

How to Launch RetroArch in Desktop Mode

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How to Launch RetroArch in Desktop Mode

  • Launch RetroArch from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
  • Launch the script from Emulation/tools/launchers, retroarch.sh
  • Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam Rom Manager

A Breakdown of Overrides

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  1. Global = Everything.
  2. Core = Anything run by a specific core.
  3. Content Directory = Any ROM in a specific directory.
    • These are used for the EmuDeck applied shaders.
  4. Game = that specific ROM.

As you get lower in this list it takes precedence, so if you do nothing but set a core shader preset, it will not override the content directory preset already applied.

For more information: https://docs.libretro.com/guides/overrides/

RetroArch Hotkeys

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Hotkeys RetroArch
Menu L3 + R3
Exit Select + Start
Pause/Unpause Select + A
Fast Forward (Toggle) Select + R2
Rewind Select + L2
Save State Select + R1
Load State Select + L1
Next Save Slot Select + DPAD Right
Previous Save Slot Select + DPAD Left
Toggle Runahead Select + DPad Up
Toggle FPS Display Select + X
Screenshot Select + B
Toggle Screen Layout (NDS) R2
Blow Mic (NDS) L2

Note:

  • Screenshots are saved in: /home/deck/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/screenshots
  • The Blow Mic hotkey only blows white noise. It cannot be used to speak into the Steam Deck microphone. The white noise may not be strong enough to progress in some games.
  • Steam Deck Button Layout

List of RetroArch Cores Used by EmuDeck

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Console/System RetroArch Core (Click for Libretro Article)
3DO RetroArch Opera
Amiga RetroArch PUAE
Amiga 600 RetroArch PUAE
Amiga 1200 RetroArch PUAE
Amiga CD32 RetroArch PUAE
Amstrad CPC RetroArch Caprice32
Atari 2600 RetroArch Stella
Atari Lynx RetroArch Stella
Commodore 16 RetroArch Vice
Commodore 64 RetroArch Vice
Commodore VIC-20 RetroArch Vice
Doom RetroArch PrBoom
DOS RetroArch DOSBox Pure
EasyRPG RetroArch EasyRPG
Final Burn Neo RetroArch FinalBurn Neo
MAME 2003 Plus RetroArch MAME 2003 Plus
MAME 2010 RetroArch MAME 2010
MAME Current RetroArch MAME Current
NEC PC-98 RetroArch Neko Project II Kai
NEC TurboGrafx-16 RetroArch Beetle PCE
NEC TurboGrafx-CD RetroArch Beetle PCE
Neo Geo Pocket & Color RetroArch Beetle NeoPop
Nintendo 64 RetroArch Mupen64plus-Next
Nintendo DS RetroArch melonDS
Nintendo Game Boy RetroArch SameBoy
Nintendo Game Boy RetroArch Gambatte
Nintendo Game Boy Advance RetroArch mGBA core
Nintendo Game Boy Color RetroArch SameBoy
Nintendo Game Boy Color RetroArch Gambatte
Nintendo NES RetroArch Mesen
Nintendo NES RetroArch Nestopia
Pico-8 RetroArch Pico-8
Sega 32X RetroArch PicoDrive
Sega CD RetroArch Genesis Plus GX
Sega Dreamcast RetroArch FlyCast
Sega Game Gear RetroArch Genesis Plus GX
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive RetroArch Genesis Plus GX
Sega Genesis Widescreen RetroArch Genesis Plus GX
Sega Master System RetroArch Genesis Plus GX
Sega Saturn RetroArch Beetle Saturn
Sega Saturn RetroArch Kronos
Sega Saturn RetroArch Yabause
Sharp X68000 RetroArch PX68k
Sony Playstation RetroArch Beetle HW
Sony Playstation RetroArch Swanstation
Sony Playstation Portable RetroArch PPSSPP
Super Nintendo RetroArch Snes9x
Super Nintendo Widescreen RetroArch bsnes hd beta
Wonderswan & Color RetroArch Beetle Cygne
ZX Spectrum RetroArch Fuse

Common Issues

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RetroArch Tips and Tricks

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How to Optimize Storage (Compression Tool)

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To optimize storage, you can use the EmuDeck Compressor within EmuDeck.

The EmuDeck Compressor will compress your Dreamcast, Playstation 1, Sega/MegaCD, 3DO, Saturn, TurboGraphix/PCEngineCD, PC-FX, Amiga CD32, and NeoGeoCD ROMs to CHD. If your ROM is a BIN/CUE, the Compression Tool will only compress it if you have both the BIN and the CUE files for a ROM. If the ROM is in a zip file or is missing a paired BIN or CUE file, the Compression Tool will not detect the ROM.

After running the EmuDeck Compression Tool, re-run Steam ROM Manager to update your ROM shortcuts to the newly compressed ROM.

Visual Reference:

How to Manage Multiple Discs

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M3U files can be used to manage multiple discs for RetroArch. Learn how to create an M3U File.

When the time comes to switch discs:

  1. Press L3 and R3 together
  2. Select manage discs

How to Configure Multiplayer

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Multiplayer for RetroArch is configured out of the box, no additional configuration is needed.

You may need to re-arrange the controller order in Game Mode for your controllers to function as expected. See How to Re-Arrange the Controller Order for more information.

How to Change Shaders

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How to Download/Update Shaders

  1. Open RetroArch
    • You may also do this in game by pressing L3 and R3
  2. Open the Main Menu
  3. Select Online Updater
  4. Select Update Slang Shaders

How to Apply New Shaders if Shaders Are Already Applied

  1. Open a game in Game Mode that has a shader applied automatically
  2. Open the Quick Menu with L3 and R3
  3. Select Shaders
  4. In Shaders, select the Remove button
  5. Select Remove Content Directory Preset
  6. Close RetroArch and reload content. No shaders will be applied
    • Yes, it may be hard to see, but no more LCD squares
  7. If you want to select a different shader, open the Shaders menu again, and select your preferred settings/shaders. When you are satisfied, select the Save button, and click Save Content Directory Preset

How to Apply Shaders if Shaders Are Not Already Applied

  1. Open a game in Game Mode
  2. Open the Quick Menu with L3 and R3
  3. Select Shaders
  4. Select Load
  5. Select a shader
  6. Back out to the Shaders menu
  7. Click Save, click Save Content Directory Preset
  8. Back out to the Quick Menu, click Overrides, and click Save Content Directory Overrides

Override Precedence

The order they are listed in is the order they take precedence, from most general to most specific.

  1. Global = Everything.
  2. Core = Anything run by a specific core.
    • Keep in mind that some cores run multiple systems. For example, the Gambatte RetroArch core plays both Game Boy and Game Boy color games. If you use the Core override, it will apply to both systems.
  3. Content Directory = Any ROM in a specific directory.
    • The folders can be found in your Emulation folder, on the storage device you selected for EmuDeck.
    • These are used for the EmuDeck applied shaders.
  4. Game = that specific ROM.

As you get lower in this list it takes precedence, so if you do nothing but set a core shader preset, it will not override the content directory preset already applied.

How to Change Controller Layouts on a Per Game Basis

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How to remap the controls for a single game:

1. Start content with the core for which you want to remap controls
2. Open the Quick Menu with L3 + R3
3. Select Controls
4. Configure controls
5. Select Manage Remap Files
6. Select Save Game Remap File

Copied From: https://docs.libretro.com/guides/input-and-controls/#remapping-controls-for-individual-cores-or-content

How to Change Controller Layouts for a System

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How to remap the controls for a single system/core:

1. Start content with the core for which you want to remap controls
2. Open the Quick Menu with L3 + R3
3. Select Controls
4. Configure controls
5. Select Manage Remap Files
6. Select Save Content Directory Remap File

Copied From: https://docs.libretro.com/guides/input-and-controls/#remapping-controls-for-individual-cores-or-content

How to Set Game Settings On a Per-Game Basis

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How to Set Game Settings On a Per-Game Basis:

1. Start content with the core for which you want to change settings
2. Open the Quick Menu with L3 + R3
3. Configure settings
4. Select Overrides
5. Select Save Game Overrides

How to Change Settings On a Per-Core Basis

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How to Change Settings On a Per-Core Basis

1. Start content with the core for which you want to change settings
2. Open the Quick Menu with L3 + R3
3. Configure settings
4. Select Overrides
5. Select Save Content Directory Overrides

How to Roll Back RetroArch to an Older Version

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  1. In Desktop Mode, open Konsole
  2. To see a list of prior versions of the emulator, type:
    • flatpak remote-info --log flathub org.libretro.RetroArch
    • Each version will have a long accompanying alphanumeric string (the “commit” code). Copy the string for the version you want to downgrade to.
  3. To downgrade to the version you want:
    • flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here org.libretro.RetroArch
    • Replace put_commit_code_here with the actual code you located in Step 2.
    • If this line does not work, you may need to type:
      • sudo flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here org.libretro.RetroArch

RetroArch Cores

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Flycast

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Flycast is a Dreamcast Core for RetroArch.

Wiki Link: https://docs.libretro.com/library/flycast/

How to Install Custom Textures For Flycast

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  1. In Emulation/bios, create a dc folder
  2. In Emulation/bios/dc, create 3 folders: texdump, textures, and skins folder
    • texdump - Dumped Textures Folder
    • textures - Texture Pack Folder
  3. Place texture packs in Emulation/bios/dc/textures
  4. Open a game, press L3 and R3, open the settings menu and enable Load Custom Textures

Texture Pack Resources: https://old.reddit.com/r/Flycast_texture_packs/

Fuse

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Fuse is a ZX Spectrum Core for RetroArch.

Wiki Link: https://docs.libretro.com/library/fuse/

How to Configure Controls for Fuse

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You will want to set a joystick in the quick menu/controls/port one.

RetroArch sets it controller by default, but thats useless for a computer.

I always suggest setting it to "Kempston" and saving a core remap.

Kempston works for a lot of games so is a good base, but it may need changing on a game by game basis, which is easy enough.

If you load a game and kempston doesnt work, just head back to quick menu/controls/port one, and try one of the other joysticks.

When you find one that works save that as a game remap.

Bear in mind though the speccy was a computer, and some games will be keyboard only, you may be able to work around that via steam input.

MelonDS

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MelonDS is a Nintendo DS Core for RetroArch.

Wiki Link: https://docs.libretro.com/library/melonds/. For the standalone emulator, visit the melonDS page.

How to Use the Trackpad for the Touch Screen

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Description: This allows you to use one of the trackpads as a touch screen for a Nintendo DS game.

RetroArch

  1. Press both L3 and R3 while playing a DS game
  2. Quick Menu > Core Options > Screen > Touch Mode > change from Touch to Mouse
  3. Quick Menu > Manage Core Options > Save Content Directory Options

Steam Input

  1. Change one of your trackpads to a mouse and either use the B button or Left Click as the click option

Mupen64Plus-Next

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Mupen64Plus-Next is a Nintendo 64 Core for RetroArch.

Wiki Link: https://docs.libretro.com/library/mupen64plus/

How to Install Custom Textures for Mupen64Plus-Next

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  1. In Emulation/hdpacks/Mupen64plus_next, create two folders, cache and hires_texture
  2. A breakdown of which folder to use:
    • .png textures stored in hires_texture/ should generate a cache when loading a matching game and then work
    • .htc/.hts textures in cache/ should work but the RA settings need to match the settings used when generating the cache
  3. Open a game, access the Quick Menu > Options > GlideN64 > Use High-Res textures
    • Enable:
      • Cache Textures
      • Use High-Res Full Alpha Channel
      • Use Hi-Res Storage

Neko Project II Kai

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Neko Project II Kai is a NEC PC-98 Core for RetroArch.

Wiki Link: https://docs.libretro.com/library/neko_project_ii_kai/

Configuring controls

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Neko Project II Kai, soon™

PPSSPP RetroArch Core

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PPSSPP is a Playstation Portable Core for RetroArch. For the standalone emulator, visit the PPSSPP page.

How to Download Asset Files (Required)

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The PPSSPP RetroArch core requires assets files to be fully functional.

To download these asset files:

  1. Open RetroArch
  2. Click Online Updater
  3. Click Core System Files Downloader to download ppsspp.zip
  4. ppsppp.zip will be downloaded to Emulation/bios, no additional steps are required

PX68k

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PX68k is a Sharp - X68000 Core for RetroArch.

Section 1

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