With the release of vba this emulator is now officially discontinued!

Many many thanks to everyone that helped!


I ported the gameboy advance emulator gdkGBA (originally made by gdkchan) to the nintendo switch! (Works on all versions as far as I know)

To set up I strongly recommend putting the original gba_bios.bin in sd:/switch/gba_bios.bin!
After that put the roms into sd:/switch/roms/ and start the homebrew.

As soon as retroarch gets updated for 5.0 this will instantly become obsolete!

source (you need the sdl2-libraries from the devkit-pro pacman to build this)

Known issues:
Sound is a bit weird (it seems like sometimes the wrong instruments play)
Some games seem to crash the switch after a while. (mostly fixed in v8)
Sometimes the switch likes to crash even in games that normally run pretty stable :/ (fixed in v8 I think)
Some games have graphical glitches/don't work at all
Saving doesn't work on some games. If that happens please don't hesitate to tell me and for now you can set (buggy) savestates using plus+r and load them using plus+l.

Please update to the latest version before reporting Problems!

Game compatibility list

UPDATE:
Sound now much better now! Many thanks to @renhei for the fix!
UPDATE2:
Changed rompath from sd:/switch/roms to sd:/switch/roms/gba in order to avoid confusion with the gbc emulator. Also double joycons now work in unattached mode!
UPDATE3:
Merged gdkchans changes to the ppu. Some games that had problems with artifacts on screen (I tried harvest moon) now look much better! However this is apparently causing trouble in some games so I also attached v2.
UPDATE4:
Added proper in-gaming-saving support! The old buggy savestate-feature is now read-only (so that you can move your progress to the new save-files). I recommend removing the old .savegame-file after making sure the new, better in-game-saving works correctly in order to make sure that you don't accidentally load it
Many thanks to @gdkchan for fixing some underlying issues with the in-game-saves of this emulator!
Also I added support for the original gba_bios.bin:
If you want to use it (which I strongly recommend since the open-source-one that's bundled is causing trouble with some games) put it into sd:/switch/gba_bios.bin
UPDATE5:
In game saving should now actually work in most games! Many thanks to @gdkchan for explaining to me how the gba handles saves!
UPDATE6:
Recompiled everything with latest libnx. Hopefully fewer crashes now.
UPDATE7:
Savestate feature is back. Please only use if the savegames fail as it is known to sometimes cause issues!
UPDATE8:
Updated libnx (again) and made a few small fixes. If you're experiencing fewer/more crashes please don't hesitate to tell me
UPDATE8.5 (Experimental only):
Pushed the new graphics-fixes from @gdkchan. Please only use them if you're experiencing graphical glitches since they introduce a large slowdown in some games.
UPDATE8.6 (Experimental only):
Pushed @gdkchans new fixes+optimisations. The experimental version should now run a bit faster!
UPDATE9:
Saving should now be more reliable again (makes the save-feature work as it did in v7 again).

 

[jakibaki]

A good friend of mine actually helped rewrite some script and submitted it back to him, which may or may not have prompted him to work on it some more. (I'd like to say he's responsible for v8.5)
That same friend is also trying to port vba over to the switch, which is a larger task in itself. So if this doesn't pan out maybe his project will.
He's more of a lurker than a poster though.

Someone submitted a pull request a few days ago which generally cleaned up the repo (which I greatly appreciate) so you probably mean that

However the fixes in v8.5 are entirely @gdkchans work.

A port of vba would be pretty great since it supports more features and most likely performs much better so I'm looking forward to that if it happens!

 

[SkyAeolus]

Someone submitted a pull request which generally cleaned up the repo (which I greatly appreciate) so you probably mean that

However the fixes in v8.5 are entirely @gdkchans work.

A port of vba would be pretty great since it supports more features and most likely performs much better so I'm looking forward to that if it happens!

I don't know the lingo but yes! He did that thing you said. He's a rare breed and just picked up a switch JUST to get into the hacking scene.
He's got other larger projects for after gba is up and running smoothly, but I'll let him surprise people for what he'll do.

 

[radaq]

I don't know the lingo but yes! He did that thing you said. He's a rare breed and just picked up a switch JUST to get into the hacking scene.
He's got other larger projects for after gba is up and running smoothly, but I'll let him surprise people for what he'll do.

You can’t reveal anytning? snes would be nice or even start working on ns4. c:

 

[SkyAeolus]

You can’t reveal anytning? snes would be nice or even start working on ns4. c:

I just don't reserve the right, It isn't anything related to gaming though so it would be off topic anyway.

 

[radaq]

I just don't reserve the right, It isn't anything related to gaming though so it would be off topic anyway.

yeah true, I wouldn't want someone showing everyone my wip art without my permission.
Really odd you would buy the switch just for hacking...

 

[jakibaki]

yeah true, I wouldn't want someone showing everyone my wip art without my permission.
Really odd you would buy the switch just for hacking...

Well if you want to get into console-hacking the switch is a pretty great choice .

An active community, pretty great toolchain, proper documentation and still a lot of homebrew/emulators that haven't been done already so it's still easy to contribute.

Also the architecture of the switch os is really fascinating so once atmosphere is out writing kernel modules (services?) is going to be something that's going to be fun to learn/do.

 

[radaq]

Well if you want to get into console-hacking the switch is a pretty great choice .

An active community, pretty great toolchain, proper documentation and still a lot of homebrew/emulators that haven't been done already so it's still easy to contribute.

Also the architecture of the switch os is really fascinating so once atmosphere is out writing kernel modules (services?) is going to be something that's going to be fun to learn/do.

I guess but that's the solely purpose you bought one? Not only that but piracy is going to be a huge program so I wonder what Nintendo is going to do next. They might have a way to see who is using a hack switch and ban them from online.

 

[jsan]

Seems like TLoZ - Minish Cap is now entirely playable, no fog overlapping the screen preventing you from seeing and performance is the same as it was on V7. Can't speak for other games, but this one is running and looks near perfect.

Good job @jakibaki and @gdkchan!

EDIT: V8.5Exp

Hi ownedlol, thanks for reporting on the playability of minish cap. How about the sound, did it get any better? I'll try it tonight once I put the baby to sleep, can't wait!

 

[MarzDaindigo]

Does this work on 4.1?

 

[PatrickD85]

Serious question: Why do people port these obscure emulators rather than more successful, feature-packed emulators like VBA?

I was thinking the exact same thing to be honest. If you look back at the wii and wiiu emulator wise; we had a great thing going with the likes of; fce ultra gx, vba gx , snes gx. Not that I dont applaud the work being done already and so quite early in the development chain. Just I am not sure what would be the 'better' aproach.

 

[SkyAeolus]

4.1 - 5.0.2

 

[Samus20XX]

I think it's not fair to keep calling this a temporary solution until retroarch comes. I mean I understand that was the original intention but now that the official emulator creator @gdkchan has stepped in and it's taking time to work and fix core emulator functions, I think it has evolved from a temporary solution. I hope the the core emulator is also getting beter with the fixes being introduced for this port. I'll be funny if in the future retroarch is having some issues with some games and people start recommending using this instead.

It's completely fair because the guy who started this port called it exactly that.

Y'all are endlessly tagging this guy in your posts, chill out.

 

[XCJLongbow]

I was thinking the exact same thing to be honest. If you look back at the wii and wiiu emulator wise; we had a great thing going with the likes of; fce ultra gx, vba gx , snes gx. Not that I dont applaud the work being done already and so quite early in the development chain. Just I am not sure what would be the 'better' aproach.

Porting a simple, no-frills, no-GUI emulator like this one is magnitudes easier and quicker to do than to port something more complex like VBA. This was the quickest way to get us a functional emulator, and I applaud it.

That said, I'm working on VBA, but it's a much different beast. If you can contribute to projects like these, please do, but otherwise try to support and encourage what's being done - porting emulators, especially complex and GUI-filled ones, isn't a simple task.

 

[gdkchan]

So... to get back to topic, I noticed a few new graphical glitches that got introduced with v8.5 in Fire Emblem (Blazing Blade). There seems to be an issue with some windows / different layers?:

Thanks for reporting this issue. I already fixed it on my ppu branch.
I also started working to optimize it a bit more, however I won't have time today so I will continue the work tomorrow. I will also look into the games that aren't starting due to save issues after that (hopefully will have time to do both tomorrow).

 

[PatrickD85]

Porting a simple, no-frills, no-GUI emulator like this one is magnitudes easier and quicker to do than to port something more complex like VBA. This was the quickest way to get us a functional emulator, and I applaud it.

That said, I'm working on VBA, but it's a much different beast. If you can contribute to projects like these, please do, but otherwise try to support and encourage what's being done - porting emulators, especially complex and GUI-filled ones, isn't a simple task.

Nah I am not bashing it in any way. Don't get me wrong there.
The fact that you mention GUI and all is pretty clear, we are still at the infancy of the Switch scene, and already so many things are happening. And I applaud that for sure.

In regard to helping out ... if only I really had the time (and the actual skill) to do so when it comes to porting. I can help in other ways sure (testing, setting up hosting etc (if wanted by anyone in the scene this is a open invite to contact me for that)

But sadly both (time and the porting skills) are a bit lacking on my end due to other projects, work, family and so on.
(it's even a real feat being able to take some time to come here and interact at a decent level)

PS: cool to hear about your steps in porting VBA; be sure to let people know you are looking for help. More hands make work easier in the long run and I am sure a lot of people would want to get their hands 'dirty'.

 

[JJTapia19]

It's completely fair because the guy who started this port called it exactly that.

Y'all are endlessly tagging this guy in your posts, chill out.

Read my post again slower and maybe you'll understand what I meant. You already did? Good job! Now read this.

Well, I've been working to fix the issues that the users are reporting (the ones that are not directly related to the switch port, at least). I've been thinking in working on a better GUI for the emulator aswell, but as this is a "temporary solution" and a retroarch port using libnx is being planned, then I guess it's not worth the effort for something that will be barely used anyway.

Do you understand what I meant now? Hope you do. Also, I didn't know tagging him also notified and bother you or any other user. It doesn't? Then why do you care?

 

[jakibaki]

Thanks for reporting this issue. I already fixed it on my ppu branch.
I also started working to optimize it a bit more, however I won't have time today so I will continue the work tomorrow. I will also look into the games that aren't starting due to save issues after that (hopefully will have time to do both tomorrow).

As always thank you very much! I pushed what you've done so far into another experimental release.

 

[ownedlol]

Well, I've been working to fix the issues that the users are reporting (the ones that are not directly related to the switch port, at least). I've been thinking in working on a better GUI for the emulator aswell, but as this is a "temporary solution" and a retroarch port using libnx is being planned, then I guess it's not worth the effort for something that will be barely used anyway.

Well, realistically how far do you think you are from competing with the VBA emulator?
To me, it seems like you're making steady progress daily... And who knows, by the time Retroarch/VBA emu is updated you might even be there.

 

[PatrickD85]

To me, it seems like you're making steady progress daily... And who knows, by the time Retroarch/VBA emu is updated you might even be there.

And this is one of the core reasons I am asking. WHEN and IF vba will come ....
Therefore development in each direction is a good one

 

[Deleted User]

I'm still having the issue where this emulator keeps randomly deleting all my save data on all my ROMs. Even though the sav files and save states are still there and everything.

I even tried to bring over save data from my mGBA emulator from my 3DS, but nothing is working? How can I fix this? It's making the entire emulator unusable for me.