Lakka Switch, L4T edition
​

I am proud to finally release the L4T version of Lakka Switch!
New kernel, new logo, new drivers, audio... everything is fresh and clean.

Did I mention Rayman 3 was full speed on Dolphin? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

General system updates

• New Linux kernel and underlying operating system, based on Linux4Tegra and Jetson Nano drivers
  • mainline kernel has been deprecated
  • system features should now be on par with the L4T Ubuntu distribution, except for dock support
  • Bluetooth was lost in the battle and needs some rest to come back stronger
• aarch64 is now the default and mainly supported architecture
  • arm has been deprecated since L4T doesn't support it
• New logo made with the help of jaames and the R:S community

New features and improvements

• Audio now works through the internal speakers and headphones
• The new GPU driver supports both Vulkan and OpenGL
• RAM is now locked at full speed (1600Mhz), was 800MHz before
• The system is now way more stable and should boot for everyone with a decent SD card (no more black screen of death)
• RetroArch has been updated to add menu widgets (fancy onscreen notifications)
• Overclock profiles have been updated :
  • Renamed all profiles
  • Added more overclock profiles
  • Added underclock profiles

New cores

• mupen64plus-next (N64 emulator)
  • The core is full speed, even on aarch64 thanks to the new dynarec
  • Includes the updated version of the GlideN renderer
• picodrive (various Sega consoles)
  • The core replaces Genesis Plus GX (Game Gear support has been dropped)
• Beetle PSX HW (PSX emulator with OpenGL and Vulkan renderer)
  • The core performs worse than PCSX ReARMed for now, even with Vulkan
• reicast (Dreamcast emulator)
  • The core is full speed on all commercial games, no visual glitches
  • The OIT renderer works (better accuracy), speed is still good on 1x resolution
  • The core needs the Dreamcast BIOS files to be placed in /lakka/storage/system/DC
  • WinCE games are currently not supported - there is a WinCE version of the reicast core in the works but the aarch64 dynarec is too slow for the games to be playable (for now)
• Yaba Sanshiro (Saturn emulator)
  • The core is full speed on all commercial games
  • Yabause and Kronos were also added but both perform worse than Yaba Sanshiro
• theodore (Thomson MO/TO emulator)

Updated cores

• Dolphin : Vulkan support
  • With Vulkan, Dolphin runs decently - some games are playable, some are full speed... see for yourself, try it and experiment with different games and settings!
• PCSX ReARMed : Switch optimizations and CHD support
• PPSSPP : doesn't crash anymore when closing content

Removed cores

• mupen64plus
• parallel-n64
• Genesis Plus GX
• Ishiiruka
  • It might come back once the core is updated with the (beta) Vulkan renderer

Credits

• Kernel and drivers work: NVIDIA, switchroot team (especially ByLaws and langerhans)
• Lakka Switch work: natinusala and plaidman
• RetroArch, original Lakka distribution: libretro team
• mupen64plus-next: Gillou and m4xw
• PCSX ReARMed: Switch optimizations by m4xw, CHD support by aliaspider
• Dolphin core: aliaspider
• reicast core: flyinghead

Download link

The Lakka Switch website has been updated with the new version: https://lakka-switch.github.io/documentation/

Please note that you can't dual boot Ubuntu and Lakka Switch for now (it will always boot Ubuntu).

 

[NRamos]

I have an issue with both DBZ Budokai 1 and 2 for the Gamecube.
The annoying thing is that both games do this slightly shake up screen up and down very quickly and bothers your eyes while looking at the screen, does somebody has a setting to stop that?
My settings were in Vulkan Drive, Max performance CPU.

 

[Shaneus]

Is it possible to get to the command line for this via USB? I need to change the timezone from default to Australian Eastern Time, but only have USB connection between my Switch and PC. And I can't find the config for timezones anywhere on the SD card.

I've tried following this, but it assumes you can get your PC and the Switch on the same network (which I cannot):
https://github.com/libretro/Lakka-LibreELEC/wiki/Timezone-settings

I can see the Switch appears on the PC via a serial connection on COM8, but no idea how to utilise that, either.

So I've found the solution for this, in case anyone was wondering. You still kinda need to follow the instructions here, except rather than doing the first step, create a new file under /lakka/storage/.cache called "timezone" (no extension). And inside it, put the following line (without quotations):
"TIMEZONE=Europe/Rome"
where your region is taken from this page (so now I'm using Australia/Melbourne).

Just tested it, and now the correct time appears in Retroarch and any games that pull the local clock setting from the device. Yay!

 

[Mouser X]

Thanks for figuring that out. I was having the same problem, except that it didn't bother me enough to find a solution. So definitely thank you! I'll have to use this, I think.

So I've found the solution for this, in case anyone was wondering. You still kinda need to follow the instructions here, except rather than doing the first step, create a new file under /lakka/storage/.cache called "timezone" (no extension). And inside it, put the following line (without quotations):
"TIMEZONE=Europe/Rome"
where your region is taken from this page (so now I'm using Australia/Melbourne).

Just tested it, and now the correct time appears in Retroarch and any games that pull the local clock setting from the device. Yay!

 

[rufuszombot]

I'm trying to get this running on my 8.1 Switch. Hekate doesn't say it's compatible with my FW, is there another version I'm missing, or something else? I go to Launch > More Configs > Lakka, but I just end up on a black screen.
Did I miss something when setting this up?

 

[Mario119]

I'm trying to get this running on my 8.1 Switch. Hekate doesn't say it's compatible with my FW, is there another version I'm missing, or something else? I go to Launch > More Configs > Lakka, but I just end up on a black screen.
Did I miss something when setting this up?

Did you format your SD card as FAT32 with a 32kb cluster size? It doesn't seem to boot unless you set up your SD card in that specific way.

 

[rufuszombot]

Did you format your SD card as FAT32 with a 32kb cluster size? It doesn't seem to boot unless you set up your SD card in that specific way.

That was exactly my problem. I feel dumb for missing that; thank you so much.

 

[Mario119]

That was exactly my problem. I feel dumb for missing that; thank you so much.

Not a problem! And just as a note, FAT32 will only let you transfer and store files up to 4GB. So if you would want to fit any larger games such Wii games you'll need to compress them to a format such as WBFS.

 

[rufuszombot]

Not a problem! And just as a note, FAT32 will only let you transfer and store files up to 4GB. So if you would want to fit any larger games such Wii games you'll need to compress them to a format such as WBFS.

Thanks for the info, I already have them all in wbfs for my actual Wii.
Now if only I could play in docked with my gamecube controller adapter.

 

[An_Hero]

This may be too specific of a question, but maybe the controls are similar for other Wii games. I'm playing the practice mode of Mario Super Sluggers. I figured out the controls for charging pitches (I have the "Input" setting in Lakka as "Wiimote sideways") as being rotate the left stick to lock the charge up and then press right trigger to throw the charged pitch. Cool. I then go to batting and can't figure out how to hold the charge (which is right trigger to charge for batting). It charges, but immediately releases. I've been mashing buttons and occasionally get it to hold but can't single out which buttons hold the charge. The in-game instructions say to pull the wiimote back, then do a swing motion (or downward thrust with the wiimote, I guess). I can't figure out that mapping in this emulator for such an action. Thanks for any help on this.

 

[PokOeLe]

check out my trinket switch with Lakka on auto boot

May I ask you how did you set up your foders/files to boot this ?
My trinket boots up on Simple UF2, and I can't find a way to make Lakka Run

 

[ELY_M]

May I ask you how did you set up your foders/files to boot this ?
My trinket boots up on Simple UF2, and I can't find a way to make Lakka Run

I used Arduino IDE to put my code and payload on my trinket m0. It worked best than that UF2


I also setup my hekate_ipl.ini to autoboot the Lakka

[config]
autoboot=1
autoboot_list=0
bootwait=3
customlogo=1
verification=2
backlight=160
autohosoff=0
[Lakka]
payload=lakka/boot/coreboot.rom
logopath=lakka/boot/bootlogo.bmp

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

my Arduino code is at https://github.com/ELY3M/sam-fusee-launcher-internal---modded-by-ELY-M

 

[ELY_M]

I also have Lakka running fine on my other switch that is on 8.1.0 FW no issues

 

[Matchitza]

Not a problem! And just as a note, FAT32 will only let you transfer and store files up to 4GB. So if you would want to fit any larger games such Wii games you'll need to compress them to a format such as WBFS.

Or you can use Dolphin to compress it, a very simple process. My Wii Sports rom was compressed from 4 GB to 438 MB which is very impressive.


Although I'm not sure Lakka's Dolphin can run .gcz files, I've never tried it.

 

[ELY_M]

I know I asked about enabling cheats on Lakka on my switch. I figured it out myself.

here is the video of me enabling the cheats in the settings. I know it is buried deep in the settings.

 

[enderer]

i don't see citra in this build of lakka. is there a way to install citra?

i know it probably won't run well, i just want to test it anyways.

 

[EmulateLife]

i don't see citra in this build of lakka. is there a way to install citra?

i know it probably won't run well, i just want to test it anyways.

I don't think you can just add a core. You'd have to recompile the entire Lakka with it yourself. How? I personally have no idea.

I know for a fact it wouldn't even be worth the trouble.

 

[Shaneus]

Though I'm not sure Lakka's Dolphin can run .gcz files, I've never tried it.

Can confirm, it works

I don't think you can just add a core. You'd have to recompile the entire Lakka with it yourself. How? I personally have no idea.

I know for a fact it wouldn't even be worth the trouble.

I don't think you have to compile it all at the same time. Before this came out I compiled Retroarch for L4T and copied the Genesis Plus GX core file into this Lakka build, and it happened to work. Probably blind luck though, I was surprised it did.

 

[PokOeLe]

I used Arduino IDE to put my code and payload on my trinket m0. It worked best than that UF2


I also setup my hekate_ipl.ini to autoboot the Lakka

[config]
autoboot=1
autoboot_list=0
bootwait=3
customlogo=1
verification=2
backlight=160
autohosoff=0
[Lakka]
payload=lakka/boot/coreboot.rom
logopath=lakka/boot/bootlogo.bmp

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

my Arduino code is at https://github.com/ELY3M/sam-fusee-launcher-internal---modded-by-ELY-M

Thank you for the great explanation. I will try to directly boot Hekate.

My set up now boots UF2, that chainboots the last version of Hekate-ctcaer 4.10.1. , from that I'm trying to boot Lakka. But .... I can't boot both Ubuntu l4t or Lakka l4t.
I've tried many SD cards, tried to format them with different tools, but nothing. Or the screen becomes black with the backlight on, or I arrive only to the Lakka Logo splashscreen.... and it stays there forever.
I'm going crazy for this .

 

[FightingPolygon]

Yoooo all we need are sleep mode and dock support and we're golden!

 

[wizra]

Has there been any updates to this? I tried some GC games about a month ago, was decent... but unplayable even with Vulkan settings and max overclock. Does anyone know if it’s better now?