RetroArch 1.9.12 released!

24 Oct 2021Developer post

Source: Steam Community (opens in a new tab)

RetroArch 1.9.12 has just been released.

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. 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

Steam

New cores are on the verge of being approved on Steam. First out of the gates is Picodrive, a Sega Genesis/Master System/Sega CD/32X emulator. You can grab that for RetroArch right now here.

We'd also like to remind users that are still using the RetroArch Play Test version on Steam to please migrate over to the mainline Steam release now and to stop using it. The Play Test version is outdated and won't really be updated anymore after this point.

Miyoo - Pocket Go, PowKiddy Q90-V90 and New BittBoy - Over 28 cores now

For version 1.9.11, we added support for Miyoo devices, such as the Pocket GO, PowKiddy Q90-V90 and New BitBoy. Back then, we only had one or two cores available.

Version 1.9.12 now comes with a whopping 28 cores - quite the improvement over 1.9.11.

List of all cores so far -

81
CAP32
fMSX
FUSE
Gambatte
Genesis Plus GX
GW
Handy
LRMAME2003
LRMAME2003 Plus
Mednafen PCE Fast
Mednafen Wswan
mGBA
NXEngine
O2EM
Picodrive
PokeMini
Potator
PrBoom
Prosystem
QuickNES
RACE
Retro8
ScummVM
SMS Plus
Stella 2014
Theodore
Vecx

NOTE: We are not affiliated or have any association with the companies behind these devices.

HID subsystem unification - improvements/bugfixes

1.9.11 added a new unified HID subsystem that works on both Mac and WiiU.

Version 1.9.12 features several crucial bugfixes and additions that were plaguing the initial implementation in 1.9.11. See the CHANGELOG at the end of this blog post for more details.

Increased backwards compatibility for macOS cores

Since the migration to our new infrastructure, the minimum OS requirements for macOS cores unintentionally went up. We have since taken steps to address this.

Here are the current minimum OS requirements:

2048: 10.9
81: 10.9
atari800: 10.9
bk: 10.1
blastem: 10.9
bluemsx: 10.9
bsnes2014_accuracy: 10.9
bsnes2014_balanced: 10.9
bsnes2014_performance: 10.9
bsnes_cplusplus98: 10.9
bsnes_hd_beta: 10.9
bsnes: 10.9
bsnes_mercury_accuracy: 10.9
bsnes_mercury_balanced: 10.9
bsnes_mercury_performance: 10.9
cannonball: 10.9
cap32: 10.9
craft: 10.7
crocods: 10.9
desmume: 10.7
dinothawr: 10.8
dosbox_core: 10.9
dosbox_pure: 10.9
dosbox_svn: 10.9
duckstation: 10.15
easyrpg: 10.9
ecwolf: 10.9
fbalpha2012_cps1: 10.9
fbalpha2012_cps2: 10.9
fbalpha2012_cps3: 10.9
fbalpha2012: 10.9
fbalpha2012_neogeo: 10.7
fbneo: 10.9
fceumm: 10.9
fixgb: 10.9
flycast: 10.9
fmsx: 10.9
freechaf: 10.9
freeintv: 10.9
frodo: 10.9
fuse: 10.9
gambatte: 10.9
gearboy: 10.9
gearcoleco: 10.9
gearsystem: 10.9
genesis_plus_gx: 10.9
genesis_plus_gx_wide: 10.9
gme: 10.9
gpsp: 10.1
gw: 10.9
handy: 10.9
hatari: 10.9
lowresnx: 10.9
lutro: 10.9
mame2000: 10.9
mame2003: 10.9
mame2003_plus: 10.9
mame2010: 10.9
mame: 10.9
mednafen_gba: 10.9
mednafen_lynx: 10.9
mednafen_ngp: 10.9
mednafen_pce_fast: 10.7
mednafen_pce: 10.7
mednafen_pcfx: 10.9
mednafen_psx: 10.9
mednafen_saturn: 10.9
mednafen_snes: 10.9
mednafen_supergrafx: 10.9
mednafen_vb: 10.9
mednafen_wswan: 10.7
melonds: 10.9
mesen-s: 10.9
mesen: 10.9
mgba: 10.9
mrboom: 10.9
mu: 10.9
nekop2: 10.9
neocd: 10.9
nestopia: 10.9
np2kai: 10.7
nxengine: 10.9
o2em: 10.9
oberon: 10.9
opera: 10.9
parallel_n64: 10.7
pcsx_rearmed: 10.9
picodrive: 10.6
play: 10.14
pocketcdg: 10.9
pokemini: 10.9
potator: 10.9
ppsspp: 10.9
prboom: 10.9
prosystem: 10.9
puae: 10.6
px68k: 10.7
quasi88: 10.9
quicknes: 10.9
race: 10.9
reminiscence: 10.9
retro8: 10.9
sameboy: 10.9
scummvm: 10.9
smsplus: 10.7
snes9x2002: 10.9
snes9x2005: 10.9
snes9x2005_plus: 10.9
snes9x2010: 10.9
snes9x: 10.9
squirreljme: 10.9
stella2014: 10.7
stella: 10.9
tgbdual: 10.7
theodore: 10.7
thepowdertoy: 10.15
tic80: 10.15
tyrquake: 10.9
uzem: 10.9
vba_next: 10.9
vbam: 10.9
vecx: 10.9
vemulator: 10.9
vice_x128: 10.9
vice_x64: 10.9
vice_x64sc: 10.9
vice_xcbm2: 10.9
vice_xcbm5x0: 10.9
vice_xpet: 10.9
vice_xplus4: 10.9
vice_xscpu64: 10.9
vice_xvic: 10.9
virtualjaguar: 10.9
vitaquake2: 10.9
x1: 10.9
xrick: 10.9
yabause: 10.9

We intend to drive down the requirements even lower in the coming months. For C++-based cores, the lowest we can go is 10.9. Going lower would require installing an older SDK version. For C-based cores, the lowest we can go is 10.4 for Intel-based architectures.

Project IO - Continued

You've read in our previous blog post that we were working on a long-term project to wrap/abstract all file system I/O in cores, and also correct and improve cores along the way. This work has continued for version 1.9.12, and we are happy to report that various cores have been improved substantially as a result.

Below are all the cores we managed to cover so far. The ones listed in bold are the new cores we have covered since 1.9.11.

Project IO - FCEUmm improvements

We replaced all direct file access in the core with VFS routines (libretro/RetroArch#12949)

In addition, it turned out that this core had been violating the libretro API for some time by setting need_fullpath = false but then requiring the content fullpath to detect the region of iNES v1.0 ROMs. This PR fixes the issue by setting need_fullpath = true by default, but then lifting this restriction for frontends that support the RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SET_CONTENT_INFO_OVERRIDE environment callback (which allows a valid content name to be extracted even when using a frontend-provided data buffer)

Built-in Game Genie support

FCEUmm has long supported emulation of the Game Genie cartridge add-on, but this is currently unavailable in the libretro core. 1.9.12 wires up said functionality:

A new core option Game Genie Add-On (Restart) has been added (disabled by default)
In order for the option to apply, the Game Genie ROM file named gamegenie.nes must be present in the frontend system directory
Game Genie support is disabled for FDS and arcade content
Save states do not function (and are disabled) while the Game Genie boot screen is open
After enabling Game Genie Add-On (Restart), launching a game will cause the Game Genie boot screen to appear. Codes can be entered with the gamepad (as on real hardware): D-Pad to move, A to select, B to delete. For example:

Super Mario Bros. YSAOPE + YEAOZA + YEAPYA Start on World 8

Why would we want this functionality, when the regular cheat interface is already available? Because:

* It provides an authentic experience
* It enables cheats when using frontends that don't support the regular cheat interface
* All the code was already in place, and it was easy to enable :)

In addition, during the process of implementing this, the core's OSD messaging code was overhauled and cleaned up. OSD warnings will be displayed when appropriate if the Game Genie ROM file is missing, and also if the FDS bios is missing. OSD message durations have been shortened a little, and the core makes use of the extended messaging interface when available.

Color palette switching

At present it is difficult to compare the core's Color Palette options, because these can only be set via the quick menu. 1.9.12 adds the ability to switch to the next/previous colour palette by holding RetroPad L2 and pressing D-Pad Left/Right while content is running.

Memory leaks fixed

Numerous memory leaks have been fixed while going over this core. This should benefit in particular all the statically linked platforms, such as game consoles.

Project IO - SameBoy improvements

1.9.12 makes the following changes to the core:

Direct file access has been replaced with VFS routines (libretro build only) (Cores with straight stdio file I/O RetroArch#12949)

The core now sets need_fullpath = false, such that content is loaded from the frontend-supplied memory buffer. (Cores that should be turned into need_fullpath = false)

Since the core no longer receives a content path, automatic ROM type detection cannot be based on file extension (.gb, .gbc). We now therefore inspect the ROM header, which means we can also distinguish SGB-enhanced content. As a result, the System - Emulated Model core option has been modified such that the Auto settings are:

Auto Detect DMG/CGB (default): Emulated hardware will be set to either Game Boy or Game Boy Color depending upon the ROM.
Auto Detect DMG/SGB/CGB: Emulated hardware will be set to either Game Boy, Super Game Boy or Game Boy Color depending upon the ROM.
A new Auto Detected SGB Model has also been added, to enable selection of which type of SGB hardware to emulate when content is detected as being SGB-enhanced.

Since it was necessary to edit the core options anyway, these have been updated to v2 and option categories have been added.
Note that all changes here (apart from two .gitignore additions) are limited to the libretro directory - no 'emulator' code has been modified.

Fixes issue #58 - 'Better Auto System Model Support #58'
Fixes issue #52 (since the core no longer loads ROMs directly) - 'Can't load ROM files with special characters in filename'

PCSX ReARMed - Improvements

Lots of improvements have been made to PCSX ReARMEd courtesy of gameblablabla -

Literals are deduplicated, so there's no guarantee they will be stored next to each other, even if they're written sequentially. verify_dirty and get_bounds must use the offsets on each instruction, instead of assuming values are stored sequentially. According to neonloop, this fixes a dynarec crash in FF7 on ARMv5 platforms like the F1C200S as used in the TrimUi handheld. Given that the old3DS is ARMv6, it may also possibly fix some crashes there as well.
GTE stalls/timings - This is to fix an issue with Battle Arena Toshinden 1 and Zero Divide going too fast. To test the GTE fix with Battle Arena Toshinden : Boot the game and go to "Vs.computer" at the titlescreen. Then, choose any character except rungo and select Rungo for the computer. Before, the game would go too fast. Now, it will run at the correct speed. (well very close, PCSX rearmed's clock counting is still kinda finicky). The fix in question was inspired by a similar fix from PCSX-Revolution. Might also fix NBA Jam Extreme.
Fix for Armored Core misdetecting a Link cable being detected -fFor some reason, the game would detect that a link cable is plugged in and disables the local multiplayer as a result.
Various CDROM fixes from Swanstation and Mednafen. These fixes aim to address the inaccuracies of some CDROM commands and make it on par with nocash's doc and mednafen. So far, it mostly fixes some delay issues in the Simple 1500 sound novel game as well as F1 2000 (which is notoriously time sensitive).
Merge several fixes from PCSX Redux and adjust delay for SetLocPending. There's a game, PoPoLoCrois Monogatari II, that unfortunately locks up during the intro screen. I should have known that code was wrong as Mednafen did not have anything like that in their code either, hence the confusion.Their fix however still don't include the Driver fix so the game would still crash if we don't have the "+ Seektime". To be honest, i'm not sure why the PCSX Reloaded team did it this way... In any case, i adjusted it so it doesn't mess up the audio for Driver's titlescreen and doesn't crash in Worms Pinball either. Seems like setting it to 100000 was not enough for that game. I noticed the fastword and FastBackward were not being used in any way. Looked at Mednafen and all they do is just adjust the cursector and make sure that fastword & backword trigger the AUTO_REPORT code so i did the latter.
CDROM: Rename Reset+Init commands, fix "This is Football 2" lockup
CDROM: Ignore sectors with channel number 255 - This was tested on "Blue's Clues : Blue's Big Musical" and it fixed the missing audio there. Taxi 2 is also said to be affected by this.
ICache emulation (Interpreter) from PCSX redux. Known games to be affected by the lack of or improper ICache emulation : Formula F1 99, Formula F1 2000 (EA), Formula One Champion Season 2000 Formula One Arcade, Formula F1 2001 (Confirmed to be fixed), Buster Bros. Collection, ISS Pro 98
Dare to set MDEC_BIAS to 10 - This based on an original fix by dmitrysmagin in PCSX4ALL. "This fixes graphic artifacts during cinematics in Vandal Hearts and R-Types, other games seem to be unaffected. (?)"
GTE: Fix gteH division and sign extension (from PCSX4ALL) - Original comment by senquack : "gteH register is u16, not s16. DIVIDE macro/func assumed it was s16 for some reason. Behavior now matches Mednafen." I also put in there the "GTE_USE_NATIVE_DIVIDE" stuff but currently unless manually enabled, it's not used. You may wish to use this on some low end platforms but that's up to you.
[SPU] Emulate SPUSTAT[5:0] as a mirror of SPUCNT[5:0] - I have tested the fix against Loonies 8192 (a PSn00bSDK made homebrew game) and it no longer locks up during loading. This affects all games and demos that uses PSn00bSDK. (I've been told it's unlikely this will affect games that uses the official SDK)
Implement fix from Mednafen for Fantastic Pinball Kyuutenkai - this also fixes 'Multi Track games crash on .CHD'.
CDROM timing changes - fixes Crash Team Racing's intro music cutting off too soon - FF8 Lunar Cry FMV freeze (Disc 3) - Worms Pinball not booting - Xenogears (Deus fight)
Fix CD Volume issue in Star Wars Dark Forces - CD Volume is 16-bits signed, not unsigned. Otherwise in Star Wars - Dark Forces : if you lower the music volume slider all the way down, the volume will wrap around and instead be set at the highest volume.

Ozone - new color themes

Solarized Light theme for Ozone menu driver

Solarized Dark theme - Ozone

Two new color themes got added - Solarized Light and Solarized Dark.

Libretro additions - Enable SRAM for contentless cores

Before, the saving/loading of SRAM data is disabled for contentless cores - which means that cores such as 2048 have to handle save data internally instead of utilising frontend-provided functionality.

1.9.12 simply disables this artificial and unnecessary restriction.

Changelog

1.9.12

3DS: Ensure parallax barrier is disabled when '3DS Display Mode' is '2D'
COMMAND: Command interface should work again
INPUT/HID: Rewrote the HID deregistration algorithm; it should no longer cause issues when dealing with multiple pads of the same HID/VID combo
INPUT/HID: Fix initialization bug that caused wiimotes to fail to register without an accessory attached
INPUT/HID: Fix Wiimote regression
INPUT/HID/MAC: Get Sony Sixaxis (DualShock 3) working on MacOS
INPUT/UDEV: Add extra abs check for dolphinbar
INPUT/UDEV: Add relative left mouse button when pointer device is not abs
INPUT/WAYLAND: Fix keyboard input on Wayland - fixes 'Certain cores ignore user input'
NETPLAY: Improvements from Cthulhu
OPENDINGUX: Fix HAS_ANALOG/HAS_MENU_TOGGLE defines in sdl_dingux joypad driver
LIBRETRO: Enable SRAM for contentless cores
LIBRETRO: Add environment callback to get the rate retro_run is called - GET_THROTTLE_STATE and RETRO_THROTTLE_UNBLOCKED environment callback
LINUX: Update metadata manifest
MENU/OZONE: New themes - Solarized Light, Solarized Dark
WINDOWS/WIN9X: Fix non-ASCII text display in window title