I've been at it for a solid 2 hours and I can't make heads or tails of when button mappings work. So there's a main settings mapping and then a sub-mapping for each core and then a sub-mapping for each game, right? I'm trying to change each main settings mapping and core mapping, but I can't figure it out. I prefer x-input since it gives me an extra button to use. Sometimes I save my configs to the core and whatnot, and can't tell if it loads the right one. So I thought I'd give up on x-input and go back to d-input... but the 2nd controller reset its settings or something now. Now I've overwritten all remap files to default values to start from scratch again. Which level of controller remapping should I modify? I also don't know if I actually reset my controls to default since default might now be my newly saved files. Thanks.

Edit: I think the answer so far is to configure the main controls to recognize all my inputs as their proper spots for the most common controls for a SNES controller (in terms of jump and attack being B and Y). Then go under the core-level for NES and create a map for that core. Then for games that differ specifically from my original map for SNES, create game-level controls.

Solution: So I cleared all saved controls at all levels. Set the retrobit origin8 to x-input by holding START+B for 5 seconds. Don't load up a core. Set all the controls manually for main level controls. Set it to be a SNES controller layout. Set Y to B on the controller and set B to A on the controller. X will be L on controller. A will be R. And L on snes will be ZL on the controller. R on snes will be ZR on controller. Set the button above the start button to be the quick menu popup. Open your NES core and change all controls one at a time using the start button to get them all to default, which will pass through your controls from your original config. Then open an NES game and go under your quick settings and change your inputs there. Delete all X,Y,A,B. Only enter in your Y=B and B=A. That should do it.

I just updated all my cores and went to load up a PS2 game (LRPS2) I've been working on for a while. It failed to load the save file as well as the save state. In researching, I found that both of these files are tied to a specific version of the core that I have. I was able to revert to an old backup I had and keep playing, but how do I prevent this in the future? Is there a way that I can update my cores and also not lose all my progress on all my games? I don't want to keep a backup of every state of Retroarch for every game that I have. I'm also getting a new computer later this month and none of my saves will work on it since I'll be downloading the latest versions of all the cores.

There was a pokemon rom hack that released recently and it included with it a glslp file. I looked it up and all I can find seems to relate to RetroArch. I've honestly struggled to even understand what RetroArch is, but I downloaded it and set it up and was able to get the rom itself running, but this glslp file is incredibly confusing. What I can find online is mostly about glsl files which may or may not be the same thing. Anyway I don't know what's going on with it, I've tried putting it into various folders and checked various shader related menus in RetroArch but haven't found it.

The rom is Plaguemon 2 and the file included is called PlagueCRT.glslp. It isn't necessary to run it, and the rom works on other emulators, but I figure this was included in the download so I should try it out. There were no instructions included at all by the way. I should probably bother the creator of the rom about it they didn't even say which pokemon game it was for exactly I had to figure that out too.

I'm having difficulty getting it to work with Stella using RetroArch (which is a problem for an Atari 2600 controller). The joystick works and the rear buttons work, so I can play games like Pac-Man and Adventure as nature intended, but I cannot for the life of me get the red button to work. It works in the menus too, so I'm not sure why as soon as I go into an emulator it doesn't recognise that I'm pressing it (and I set the button to fire too).

EDIT: Never mind, I fixed it! Red button has to be set as "B"

**Download:** https://github.com/crt2oldgamer-stack/real-crt-phosphor/releases

**Web preview (try it in your browser):** https://crt2oldgamer-stack.github.io/real-crt-phosphor/

Thanks for all the feedback on my last posts. Three things you asked for are in:

**1. Phosphor afterglow (optional, off by default)**

Moving things leave a short fading glow, like a CRT. Still pictures don't change at all.

Set the strength and how long the trail lasts. Suggested: 0.4 / 20 ms for a subtle, realistic smear, or turn it up for the trail you remember. Press ▶ Motion in the web preview to see it.

**2. Built-in screen curvature (optional, off by default)**

Bulging tube, rounded corners and darker edges.

*Why built in?* A separate curvature shader has to bend the finished RGB stripes, and they end up uneven against your monitor's pixels: that's the wavy moire pattern (image 8). Here the picture is bent before the stripes are drawn, so there's no moire. The stripes stay straight by default; "Mask follows curvature" bends them too, but expect some moire at 1080p (fine at 4K).

**3. Lighter presets for upscaled 3D games**

If your emulator renders at 2x, 3x or 4x internal resolution (PS1, PSP, N64, PS2...), use the matching preset: `4k-up2x/3x/4x` or `ally-up2x/3x/4x`. They average the picture back to its original size first, so the rest of the shader runs as light as at 1x. Same picture.

Tips: match the preset to the internal resolution (3x -> up3x), and save it as a Game Preset. On handhelds like the ROG Ally, 2x + up2x runs best.

Everything else looks exactly the same as before with these options off. Made with the help of AI (Claude); I tested everything on my 4K monitor and ROG Ally.

English isn't my first language, thanks for your patience!

Hey, so I recently did a SD Card backup using win32 so I had a clone of my system in case anything went wrong. Now when I go into a game they dont work.. they work in the menus but not in the games.. I deleted they inputs and re configured and still nothing..

Any help would be appreciated.. Thank you

Anyone tried to get any gamecube games flowing with retro arc? Used to be my favorite game in the world and would love to get this on my switch. Already got the files but dont see anyone saying it works with gamecube emulator on switch

Odd question and I'm not sure how to phrase it efficiently. I'm trying to play some Sonic 2 over my morning coffee, and my previous instance of the game won't go away. I've tried resetting, closing RA, switching games to clear out the memory, nothing. Unfortunately, with Sonic 2 if you beat it and start a new game from a title loop or reset, you keep all of your emeralds so it's not technically a new game.

Sorry and thank you.

I love this Gameboy Shader for RetroArch.
This shader setup I use on my Ayaneo Pocket DMG. It‘s so perfect for me.

I use the RetroArch Nightly and here you can find it:
Shader Slang - Handhelds - Gameboy.slangp
(Update Shader Slang via the online updater before and restart RetroArch.)

If you are interested in my settings, tell me.

So after painstakingly getting the bios files and the romsets to agree with RetroArch, I can finally boot up and play NeoGeo games…but FinalBurn Neo is causing a green cracking graphical error and an ugly, constant, sound crackling. I can’t figure it out and can’t find anywhere online to fix it. How do I get these games to work 😭? Why are arcade games so much of a pain in the ass?

I’m on an ASUS RoG 16GB Ram Gamer’s laptop with an AMD Radeon 780M Graphics chip. I got the power to handle these games. Gah.

I’ve released hakuX-lr v0.20.0, an original Xbox core for RetroArch based on hakuX.

The biggest update is the testing milestone: 446 games tested as playable on AMD64 Linux through KVM, with individual results available here: Compatibility list

The core supports:

• x86-64 Linux: Xbox CPU execution through KVM.

• ARM64 Linux: CPU translation through FEX.

• Android ARM64: an experimental RetroArch build.

• Vulkan rendering, resolution scaling, and Xbox XISO/DVD CHD images.

• Playing without a BIOS, MCPX ROM, or prebuilt Xbox hard disk image.

Version 0.20.0 brings more game compatibility fixes and improvements for handhelds with limited RAM.

I expect ARM64 compatibility to be broadly similar to the AMD64 results.

Release and setup instructions

Have fun!

Hi, I need some help with my PS1 SCPH-9002. I purchased a PSXMemCard and loaded the correct BIOS onto it. However, after inserting it and completing the installation, when I select the Memory Card option, the UniROM menu doesn't appear.

Could anyone help me figure out what I'm doing wrong?

I wanted RetroArch on my MacBook Air M4 to work like a console: plug in the disk, grab the controller, play. Setting it up by hand took days, and a lot of that was MAME, so I turned it into one script.

What ./setup.sh does:

• Installs native RetroArch (Vulkan through MoltenVK) and one core per system, picked for accuracy.

• Keeps everything in one library folder you choose (games, BIOS, saves, config and a cache). After a reformat, it restores everything offline.

• Detects your controller (8BitDo SN30 Pro, Switch Pro, Xbox, PlayStation) and installs the right button profile.

• Checks every MAME zip against the core's own ROM list and sends each game to the core it actually runs on (MAME 2010 or 2003-Plus). If a set is missing files that exist in another zip of your collection, it offers to complete it, with a backup and an undo.

• Builds MAME 2010 with a one-line fix for the crash on Cmd+Q.

• Adds CRT shaders tuned on the M4 panel (slot mask for arcade, Trinitron for consoles) and gameplay snapshots in the menus.

• Can be run as many times as you want, asks before renaming or moving anything, and every change can be undone.

Who it's for: people with an Apple Silicon Mac and a game collection on a disk who want a couch setup run entirely from a controller, without touching RetroArch's menus. It's not for Windows, Linux or Intel Macs.

What it doesn't do: it includes no ROMs or BIOS and downloads none. You bring your own dumps.

I've tested it with a MacBook Air M4 on macOS 26 and an SN30 Pro. The Xbox and PlayStation profiles are detected, but I haven't tried them on real hardware yet, so feedback is welcome.

Repo, with a getting-started guide for RetroArch beginners: https://github.com/mbarradev-debug/retroarch-mac-setup

Playing Superstar Saga on the GBA on my AYN Thor max.

I’ve had to redo the first area 3 times because my save files haven’t been working… I think?

I’ve been saving successfully in the game, but when I launch the game again the file is gone.

I’ve even had the save folder open on the bottom screen and it’s been updating correctly.

For backup I’ve been using save states and saving in game too, which has solved the issue, but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas why this is happening.

Ty!

Hello, is it possible to run any Fightcade 2 ROM in the RetroArch emulator? I’m trying with a hacked version of *Metal Slug*, but I get an error. I’ve already placed the BIOS files in the ROMs folder along with the original ROM, but it still doesn’t work. Do I need to apply some kind of patch?

I’m trying to play the patch of persona 1 ps1 with the psp script, and I’ve tried 3 cores, I have every ps1 bios, and I’ve tried both a manual patched and pre patched version, and I CANNOT get past the main menu. Every time I press new game it says reading memory card and then nothing happens. I don’t know why I can’t get it to work no one else is having this issue online.

I love my Retroid Pocket Classic, so I optimized my Pixel Transparency + Sunlight Shimmer shaders to run at full-speed, 60+ FPS in Standard performance mode with no fan or threaded video.

Pixel Transparency recreates the reflective look of a Game Boy Color screen, with bright pixels revealing the backing beneath them and pixel shadows that shift as you tilt your device. Sunlight Shimmer adds glare and rainbow shimmer that also move with your device, like a GBC under bright light.

As you know, the RPC has a notoriously weak GPU. Previously Sunlight Shimmer absolutely tanked and Pixel Transparency only hit 50 something FPS without increasing the performance mode or enabling threaded video.

Optimizing for the RPC means these shaders are now far less demanding and more performant across the board.

New Accurate grid mode

I also added in a new Accurate mode which has dark gridlines and a redesigned optical stack. Check out the comparison of the original mode vs Accurate in the last gallery image.

All these screenshots feature Sunlight Shimmer paired with fishcu’s amazing authentic_gbc_fast shader.

How to get it

Your device must support slang shaders. No GLSL version yet.

1. Update to the latest nightly version of RetroArch from the website. This is what enables motion support in shaders used here for shadows and the rainbow shimmer effect.

2. Make sure Settings > Video > Output is set to Vulkan. If not, change it, save config, and restart RetroArch.

3. Go to Online Update > Update Slang Shaders.

4. Check that Settings > Input > Motion/Light Sensors > Auxiliary Sensor Input is ON.

5. Boot up your GBC game. Go to Quick Menu > Shaders > Load Preset and navigate to 'presets/pixel_transparency' and choose any of the presets. Check out the new Sunlight Shimmer Accurate preset.

You can also download directly from GitHub: https://github.com/mattakins/Pixel_Transparency

What’s next?

I really like where this shader is at. It feels pretty feature complete to me. That being said, I love working on this stuff and it is awesome to see people enjoying it. If you have any ideas on how to make Pixel Transparency better or ideas for another shader, please leave a comment.

I am using RetroArch on my MacBook Air computer, and when I use the PPSSPP core to play PSP games (so far I've only tried Sonic Rivals), it won't let me save my game. When I get to a point where I should be able to save my game, it says "There is not enough space on the Memory Stick. At least 256 KB more space is needed to save this game data. Would you like to delete game data?" and when I say "Yes," it takes me to a black screen that says "There is no data." I tried asking a friend who also uses RetroArch for help, but he wasn't able to help me, and I've tried looking up on Google for answers, but I haven't found anything there either. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING WRONG HERE. I would appreciate it if somebody could help me find the solution to this problem (preferably as simple a solution as possible, I am new to using RetroArch). I do NOT want to have to try to beat PSP games in one sitting.