RetroArch explained

RetroArch is a free and open-source, cross-platform frontend for emulators, game engines, video games, media players and other applications. It is the reference implementation of the libretro API,^{[1] [2]} designed to be fast, lightweight, portable and without dependencies.^[3] It is licensed under the GNU GPLv3.

RetroArch runs programs converted into dynamic libraries called libretro cores, using several user interfaces such as command-line interfaces, a few graphical user interfaces optimized for gamepads, several input, audio and video drivers, and other sophisticated features such as dynamic rate control, audio filters, multi-pass shaders, netplay, gameplay rewinding, cheats, etc.

RetroArch has been ported to many platforms. It can run on several PC operating systems, home consoles, handheld consoles, smartphones, smart TV's, single-board computers and web browsers.^{[4] [5]}, versions for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 are not out yet, but are available unofficially.^[6]

History

Formerly known as SSNES, initially based on pseudonymous programmer Near's predecessor libsnes,^[7] it began its development in 2010 with Hans-Kristian "Themaister" Arntzen committing the first change on GitHub.^[8] It was intended as a replacement to bsnes's Qt-based interface^[9] but it grew to support more emulation "cores". On April 21, 2012, SSNES was officially renamed^[10] to RetroArch to reflect this change in direction.

RetroArch's version 1.0.0.0 was released on January 11, 2014, and at the time was available on seven distinct platforms: OS X, Android, iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and GameCube.^[11] On February 25, 2014, the version for Microsoft Windows was released. It featured cores for systems: SNES, NES, GB, GBC, GBA, Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64.

On February 16, 2016, RetroArch became one of the first ever applications to implement support for the Vulkan graphics API, having done so on the same day of the API's official release day.^[12]

On November 27, 2016, the Libretro Team announced that, alongside Lakka (LibreELEC-based RetroArch operating system), RetroArch would be on the Patreon crowdfunding platform to allow providing bounties for developers who fix specific software bugs and to cover the costs for matchmaking servers.^[13]

In December 2016, GoGames – a company contracted by video game developer and publisher Sega – approached the RetroArch developers with the intention of using their software in their SEGA Forever project but ultimately the cooperation did not come to fruition due to licensing disagreements.^{[14] [15]}

In April 2018, an input lag compensation feature called "Run-Ahead" was added.^[16]

The Libretro Team planned to release RetroArch onto Steam as a free download, integrating Steamworks features into the platform in July 2019. It would have been the first major dedicated emulation title to be released on the platform at the time.^[17]

In 2020, the paraLLel libretro core for RetroArch used the GPU to run the Nintendo 64 at full speed on common consumer hardware, with upscaled graphics and the accuracy of bit-exact low-level renderer Angrylion.

In August 2020, someone impersonating a trusted member of the team got access to the buildbot server and the GitHub account for the libretro organization, causing vandalism and server wipes.^[18]

In November 2020, RetroArch in conjunction with a PCSX2 libretro core allowed the Xbox Series X and Series S to emulate the PlayStation 2, something that Sony's own PlayStation 5 could not do at the time.^[19]

On September 14, 2021, RetroArch was released on Steam.^[20]

On May 15, 2024, RetroArch has returned after three years officially on iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and visionOS through the App Store.^[21]

Features

Its major features include:

• Advanced GPU shader support – A multi-pass post-processing shader pipeline to allow efficient usage of image scaling algorithms, emulation of complex CRT, NTSC video artifacts and other effects;
• Dynamic rate control to synchronize video and audio while smoothing out timing imperfections;^[22]
• FFmpeg recording – Built-in support for lossless video recording using FFmpeg's libavcodec;
• Gamepad abstraction layer called Retropad;
• Gamepad auto-configuration – Zero-input needed from the user after plugging gamepads in;
• Peer-to-peer netplay that uses a rollback technique similar to GGPO;^[23]
• Audio DSP plugins like an equalizer, reverb and other effects;
• Advanced savestate features – Automatic savestate loading, disabling SRAM overwriting, etc.;
• Frame-by-frame gameplay rewinding;
• Button overlays for touchscreen devices like smartphones;
• Thumbnails of game box art;
• Low input and audio lag options;
• Automatically build categorized playlists by scanning directories for games/ROMs;
• Multiple interfaces including: CLI, XMB (optimized for gamepads), GLUI/MaterialUI (optimized for touch devices), RGUI and Ozone (available everywhere);

thumbnail|Screenshot of RetroArch running under the Ozone user interface

• Game ROM scanner – Automatically constructs playlists by comparing the hashsums of a directory's files against databases of hashsums of known good game copies;^[24]
• Libretro database of cores, games, cheats, etc.;^[25]
• OpenGL and Vulkan API support;
• Run-ahead – Hide the input lag of emulated systems by using both savestates and fast-forwarding;
• Achievement tracking – Integration with the RetroAchievements service to unlock trophies and badges;^[26]
• AI service – Uses machine translation external services to translate game text on screen.^[27]

Supported systems

While RetroArch is available for many platforms, the availability of a specific libretro core varies per platform. For example, fewer cores are available for the iOS or Android version, than for the PC.

Below is a non-exhaustive table of which systems are available to RetroArch and what project the core is based on:

System	Computer system/video game console emulator	Platform
3DO	4DO, Opera	PC, iOS, Android
Amiga	PUAE UAE4ARM	PC, iOS, Android
Amstrad CPC	Caprice32 CrocoDS	PC, iOS, Android
Arcade	MAME MESS FinalBurn Neo FinalBurn Alpha	PC, iOS, Android
Atari 2600	Stella	PC, iOS, Android
Atari 5200	a5200 Atari800	PC, iOS, Android
Atari 7800	ProSystem	PC, iOS, Android
Atari 8-bit computers	Atari800	PC, iOS, Android
Atari Falcon/Atari ST	Hatari	PC
Atari Jaguar	Virtual Jaguar	PC
Atari Lynx	Mednafen Handy	PC, iOS, Android
BBC Micro	Acorn	PC, iOS, Android
ColecoVision	blueMSX Gearcoleco	PC, iOS, Android
Commodore 64	VICE Frodo	PC, iOS, Android
Commodore 128	VICE	PC, iOS, Android
Commodore CBM-II	VICE	PC, iOS, Android
Commodore PET	VICE	PC, iOS, Android
Commodore Plus/4	VICE	PC, iOS, Android
Commodore VIC-20	VICE	PC, iOS, Android
DOS	DOSBox DOSBox-Pure DOSBox-SVN	PC, iOS, Android
Electronika BK-0010/BK-0011	M	PC
Fairchild Channel F	FreeChaF	PC, iOS, Android
Handheld electronic game	GW	PC, iOS, Android
Intellivision	FreeIntv	PC, iOS, Android
Mac II	minivmac	PC
Mega Duck	SameDuck	PC
MSX	fMSX blueMSX	PC, iOS, Android
NEC PC Engine / CD	Mednafen	PC, iOS, Android
NEC TurboGrafx-16 / SuperGrafx	Mednafen	PC, iOS, Android
NEC PC-8000 / PC-8800	QUASI88	PC
NEC PC-98	Neko Project II Kai Neko Project II	PC, iOS, Android
NEC PC-FX	Mednafen	PC, iOS, Android
NEC TurboGrafx-CD	Mednafen	PC
Neo Geo Pocket / Color	Mednafen RACE	PC, iOS, Android
Nintendo 3DS	Citra Citra 2018	PC
Nintendo 64	Mupen64Plus Mupen64Plus-Next ParaLLEl N64	PC, iOS, Android
Nintendo DS	DeSmuME DeSmuME 2015 melonDS	PC, iOS, Android
Nintendo Entertainment System	higan Emux FCEUmm Nestopia UE QuickNES Mesen	PC, iOS, Android
Nintendo Famicom Disk System	FCEUmm Mesen Nestopia higan QuickNES	PC, iOS, Android
Nintendo Game Boy / Color	Emux Gambatte SameBoy TGB Dual higan Mesen-S	PC, iOS, Android
Nintendo Game Boy Advance	Mednafen gpSP Meteor mGBA VisualBoyAdvance	PC, iOS, Android
Nintendo GameCube	Dolphin	PC, Android
Nintendo Wii	Dolphin	PC, Android
Nintendo Pokémon Mini	PokeMini	PC, iOS, Android
Odyssey²	O2EM	PC
Palm OS	Mu	PC, iOS, Android
Philips CD-i	SAME CDi Cdi 2015	PC
PlayStation	Mednafen PCSX ReARMed DuckStation SwanStation	PC, iOS, Android
PlayStation 2	Play! PCSX2	PC
PlayStation Portable	PPSSPP	PC, iOS, Android
Super Nintendo Entertainment System	higan Mednafen bsnes Snes9x Mesen-S	PC, iOS, Android
Sega 32X	PicoDrive	PC, iOS, Android
Sega Dreamcast	Redream Flycast (formerly Reicast)	PC
Sega Game Gear	Genesis Plus GX PicoDrive SMS Plus GX Gearsystem	PC, iOS, Android
Sega Master System	PicoDrive Genesis Plus GX SMS Plus GX Gearsystem	PC, iOS, Android
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive	Genesis Plus GX BlastEm PicoDrive	PC, iOS, Android
Sega CD/Mega CD	Genesis Plus GX PicoDrive	PC, iOS, Android
Sega Saturn	uoYabause Mednafen YabaSanshiro Kronos	PC, iOS, Android
Sega ST-V	Kronos	PC
Sega VMU	VeMUlator	PC
SG-1000	blueMSX Gearsystem	PC, iOS, Android
Sharp X1	X Millennium	PC
Spectravideo	blueMSX	PC, iOS, Android
Super Cassette Vision	Libretro-EmuSCV[28]	PC
Thomson computers	Theodore	PC, iOS, Android
Uzebox	Uzem	PC
Vectrex	Vecx	PC, iOS, Android
Virtual Boy	Mednafen	PC, iOS, Android
Watara Supervision	Potator	PC, iOS, Android
WonderSwan	Mednafen, Beetle Cygne	PC, iOS, Android
X68000	PX68k	PC, iOS, Android
ZX81	EightyOne	PC
ZX Spectrum	Fuse	PC, iOS, Android

Reception

RetroArch has been praised for the number of systems and games it can play under a single interface.^{[29] [30] [31] [32]}

It has been criticized for how difficult it is to configure, due to the extensive number of options available to the user, and at the same time has been praised for the more advanced features it possesses.^[33]

On Android, it has been praised for the fact that overlays can be customized, for the expandability of the libretro cores it supports, for its compatibility with several USB and Bluetooth controller peripherals, in addition to the app being free and having no ads.^[34]

Kyle Orland, writing for Ars Technica, said that RetroArch's 'Run-Ahead' feature is "arguably the biggest improvement to the experience the retro gaming community has yet seen".

See also

• List of free and open-source software packages
• List of video game emulators

Notes and References

1. Web site: libretro/RetroArch. GitHub. 2017-10-01. 2018-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20181023090818/https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/blob/master/libretro-common/include/libretro.h. live.
2. Web site: libretro/libretro-samples. GitHub. 12 October 2021. 31 October 2017. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612223244/https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples. live.
3. Web site: Home – Libretro. www.libretro.com. en-US. 2017-08-02. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803073558/https://www.libretro.com/index.php/home-2/. live.
4. Web site: Marín . Daniel . RetroArch, tutorial: how it works, compatible consoles, games and more . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522034754/https://eloutput.com/en/video-game/guides/retroarch/ . 2023-05-22 . 2024-08-05 . El Output . en.
5. Web site: Pablinux . 2023-12-12 . RetroArch Web Player, retro console games in the browser . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805115757/https://www.linuxadictos.com/en/retroarch-web-player-retro-console-games-in-the-browser-by-libretro.html . 2024-08-05 . 2024-08-05 . Linux Adictos . en.
6. Web site: Aurora . 2019-12-28 . News: RetroArch FINALLY gets released on PlayStation 4 with 25 cores including PS1, MAME and experimental Nintendo 64 emulators... . https://web.archive.org/web/20191230061256/https://wololo.net/2019/12/28/news-retroarch-finally-gets-released-on-playstation-4-with-25-cores-including-ps1-mame-and-experimental-nintendo-64-emulators-vitagrafix-5-0-0-released-for-the-psvita-with-re-written-parser-an/ . 2019-12-30 . 2024-08-05 . Wololo.net . en-US.
7. Web site: Libsnes - libretro/snes9x2010 Wiki. GitHub. 2017-08-06. 2020-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20201018142044/https://github.com/libretro/snes9x2010/wiki/Libsnes. live.
8. Web site: SSNES · libretro/RetroArch@eed8e2b. GitHub. en. 2017-08-02. 2021-12-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20211210182526/https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/commit/eed8e2bed2d0d7dfe51834d6c27714472017cb6e. live.
9. Web site: SSNES - The SNES emulator that sucks less. / Community Contributions / Arch Linux Forums. bbs.archlinux.org. en. 2017-08-02. 2014-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20140913081048/https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=98044. live.
10. Web site: SSNES · libretro/RetroArch@9ab51ad2. GitHub. en. 2017-08-16. 2021-12-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20211210182441/https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/commit/9ab51ad23ad0b9c4a2b93b86c69b25aa0c66d9e2. live.
11. Web site: RetroArch v1.0.0.0 release information – Libretro. www.libretro.com. 11 January 2014 . en-US. 2017-08-02. 2014-01-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20140115225850/https://www.libretro.com/index.php/retroarch-v1-0-0-0-release-information/. live.
12. Web site: Day 1 Vulkan support – Libretro. www.libretro.com. 16 February 2016 . en-US. 2017-08-02. 2016-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20160219135221/https://www.libretro.com/index.php/day-1-vulkan-support/. live.
13. Web site: We are now on Patreon! – Libretro. www.libretro.com. 27 November 2016 . en-US. 2017-08-02. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803054349/https://www.libretro.com/index.php/we-are-now-on-patreon/. live.
14. Web site: Sega releases classic games on mobile, for free, but at what cost?. Matulef. Jeffrey. 2017-06-21. Eurogamer. en-UK. 2017-08-03. 2019-04-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190423145908/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-21-sega-releases-classic-games-on-mobile-for-free-but-at-what-cost. live.
15. Web site: Sega defends Sega Forever launch after fan outcry. Robinson. Martin. 2017-06-26. Eurogamer. en-UK. 2017-08-03. 2017-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20170626123058/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-26-sega-defends-sega-forever-launch-after-fan-outcry. live.
16. Web site: Better than reality: New emulation tech lags less than original consoles. 19 April 2018. 4 May 2018. 19 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180419163214/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/04/better-than-reality-new-emulation-tech-lags-less-than-original-consoles/. live.
17. Web site: RetroArch will be Steam's biggest emulation launch yet, coming July 30 . Sam . Machkovech . July 13, 2019 . July 13, 2019 . . July 13, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190713134247/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/07/retroarch-the-worlds-largest-emulation-front-end-coming-to-steam-july-30/ . live .
18. Web site: Hacker vandalised our buildbot and Github organization . De Matteis . Daniel . August 16, 2020 . libretro.com . August 20, 2020 . August 16, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200816100612/https://www.libretro.com/index.php/hacker-vandalised-our-buildbot-and-github-organization/ . live .
19. Web site: Campbell. Ian Carlos. 2020-11-30. Enterprising developers are emulating PS2 games on the Xbox Series S and X. 2020-12-11. The Verge. en. 2020-11-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130230253/https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/30/21734149/ps2-emulation-xbox-series-x-s-retroarch-support. live.
20. Web site: RetroArch on Steam. 2021-09-14. 2019-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20190713134108/https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118310/RetroArch/. live.
21. News: Davis . Wes . RetroArch brings its free multisystem emulation to the iOS App Store . May 15, 2024 . The Verge . May 15, 2024 . en.
22. Web site: Dynamic Rate Control for Retro Game Emulators . github.com.
23. Web site: RetroArch. retroarch.com. en. 2017-08-02. 2017-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20170606124329/http://retroarch.com/index.php?page=netplay. live.
24. Web site: ROMs, Playlists, and Thumbnails - Libretro Docs. docs.libretro.com. 2017-12-26. 2017-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130317/https://docs.libretro.com/guides/roms-playlists-thumbnails/#retroarch-playlist-scanner. live.
25. Web site: libretro/libretro-database. GitHub. 19 October 2021. 31 October 2017. 10 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180610235949/https://github.com/libretro/libretro-database. live.
26. Web site: RetroAchievements.org. RetroAchievements. 2019-12-10. 2012-11-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20121121150009/https://retroachievements.org/. live.
27. Web site: Matteis. Daniel De. RetroArch 1.7.8 – AI Service – How To Set It Up – Libretro. 2021-04-28. en-US. 2019-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190825201808/https://www.libretro.com/index.php/retroarch-1-7-8-ai-service-how-to-set-it-up/. live.
28. Web site: libretro-emuscv. Gitlab. ja. 2025-05-27.
29. News: How to Set Up RetroArch, The Ultimate All-In-One Retro Games Emulator. 2017-08-03. en-US. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803050058/https://www.howtogeek.com/260274/how-to-set-up-retroarch-the-ultimate-all-in-one-retro-games-emulator/. live.
30. News: How to Set Up an All-In-One Retro Game Emulator with RetroArch. Klosowski. Thorin. Lifehacker. 2017-08-03. en-US. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803085626/http://lifehacker.com/how-to-set-up-an-all-in-one-retro-game-emulator-with-re-1745863517. live.
31. News: The NES Classic is sold out, but these emulators do the same thing for free. 2017-03-31. Digital Trends. 2017-08-03. en-US. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803090753/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/best-emulators/. dead.
32. News: RetroArch Emulates Nearly Every Classic Gaming Console on Android. Dachis. Adam. Lifehacker. 2017-12-26. en-US. 2017-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20171226130314/https://lifehacker.com/5988944/retroarch-emulates-nearly-every-classic-gaming-console-on-android. live.
33. News: Eight Advanced RetroArch Features that Make Retro Gaming Great Again. 2017-08-03. en-US. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803045958/https://www.howtogeek.com/265057/eight-advanced-retroarch-features-that-make-retro-gaming-great-again/. live.
34. News: RetroArch Emulates NES, PlayStation, Gameboy Color/Advance and a Whole Lot More [Android]]. MakeUseOf. 2017-12-26. en-US. 2017-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20171226074303/https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/retroarch-emulates-nes-playstation-gameboy-coloradvance-and-a-whole-lot-more-android/. live.