When you think emulator frontends, there's a high chance that RetroArch comes to mind. Its simple design and ease of use have made it an incredibly popular application, for years and years. And now, you'll be able to officially use RetroArch from the comfort of Steam. In an attempt to legitimize and grow their brand, Libretro will be releasing RetroArch on Steam, at the end of the month. It'll launch on July 30th, for free, and on Windows only, initially, with a Linux and MacOS version to follow shortly after. There won't be any difference between the Steam build and the one you can get normally on Libretro's official site, but the team is looking into incorporating features from Steam's platform in the future. This feature follows a recent RetroArch update, which lets users directly dump their official game discs to their computer, allowing for easy backups. You'll also be able to take a Sega CD, Saturn, PlayStation 1, or 3D0 disc. put it in your PC's disc drive, and run it directly on RetroArch, with more consoles to be supported in the future.

There are also plans in the works for developers of older IPs to release their games on Steam, through using RetroArch, though no further details are known about that yet.

Source

 

[Ev1l0rd]

Sure, it's legal. That is, until a large corporation throws a million dollars towards US legislators and they make it illegal. It'll be an open and close case. Money solves everything in the US, you just gotta pay the congress. This holds true now more than ever.

I dont think any legislation can really stop emulation if I'm being honest. There is no basis to properly extent copyright law to also see emulation as infringement without casting such a wide net that you also risk virtualization software becoming illegal and that is pretty much the last thing businesses want (since a number of them rely on that).

 

[WiiHomebrew+Snes]

no no no no no NO NOOOOO!!
DRM platforms are NOT where ROMs belong! This is VERY bad news for software preservation.

what? it's just retroarch not the roms ?

Edit: retroarch isnt even an emulator

 

[bodefuceta]

what? it's just the emulator not the roms ?

You think they're just letting you download RA and use your ROMs without any profit? It even says in the OP this is a scheme to sell you old software with DRM included.

 

[ssssss13]

no no no no no NO NOOOOO!!
DRM platforms are NOT where ROMs belong! This is VERY bad news for software preservation.

Probably the only here thats right.

Steam STANS are so busy flaming Epic Games that wont notice this is awful for gaming world

 

[WiiHomebrew+Snes]

You think they're just letting you download RA and use your ROMs without any profit? It even says in the OP this is a scheme to sell you old software with DRM included.

well yes, they're letting you do just that. they're not gonna restrict roms or anything lol. All it says is some licence holders are thinking about putting roms on steam, which has nothing to do with libretro and isn't even a definite thing that's going to happen.

 

[lordelan]

Very surprising but appreciated turn.
Imagine Nintendo following adding it officially to their eShop.

However, it can't be a bad thing and might push RetroArch into even higher spheres.

 

[Chary]

You think they're just letting you download RA and use your ROMs without any profit? It even says in the OP this is a scheme to sell you old software with DRM included.

Well if you don't like that, you can use the normal RetroArch, which will continue as normal alongside the Steam version. Presumably, they're doing this to allow gamers to support older IPs which they can no longer do anymore, or play older games in general. Not every person uses emulation straight up, so if casual users are given an alternative to buy and play a classic title and support the company, I see absolutely no issue with that.

 

[froid_san]

it said on the community tab that's its free with no DRM and will be exact same version as on the main site as first then they'' explore steams functionality, maybe workshop and cloud or expand multiplayer functionality?

 

[Bladexdsl]

how did they manage to get an emulator on steam i thought they were illegal?

 

[Ryccardo]

Its simple design and ease of use have made it an incredibly popular application[...]

yeah suuuure

how did they manage to get an emulator on steam i thought they were illegal?

No, although its usage may be and/or it may be against Steam policy (which is not the law)

 

[gamecaptor]

Wow, this is something I would have ever expected. Pretty fascinating development. I'm curious to see where it goes!

 

[TR_mahmutpek]

WAD

 

[m4xw]

yeah suuuure


No, although its usage may be and/or it may be against Steam policy (which is not the law)

retroarch is not a emulator
shrugs

 

[SlasherGamer21]

I love this news and can't wait to try it

 

[Kioku]

You think they're just letting you download RA and use your ROMs without any profit? It even says in the OP this is a scheme to sell you old software with DRM included.

....and? It's STILL Retroarch.. The Sega classics have workshop mods to effectively replace one game with another...

Probably the only here thats right.

Steam STANS are so busy flaming Epic Games that wont notice this is awful for gaming world

I'm sorry... Stans? What? How is this awful? It's unexpected, sure... But I don't see the negative impact it could have.

 

[bodefuceta]

Well if you don't like that, you can use the normal RetroArch, which will continue as normal alongside the Steam version.

Thank you captain obvious. I just don't want this service to become popular and in 20+ year we'll have DRM-infected ROMs popping up everywhere.

 

[Kioku]

Thank you captain obvious. I just don't want this service to become popular and in 20+ year we'll have DRM-infected ROMs popping up everywhere.

Take the foil hat off and breathe. That's not how this works, at all.

DRM infected ROMs... Man, now I've heard it all.. Hypothetically, if this were to happen, you realize that there's other options in terms of emulator front ends? The overreaction to this choice is baffling... And raises quite a few questions. None I don't think you can calmly and rationally answer.

 

[TunaKetchup]

Thank you captain obvious. I just don't want this service to become popular and in 20+ year we'll have DRM-infected ROMs popping up everywhere.

Are you insane?

What in the world....

 

[Izual Urashima]

I have a problem with it.

Imagine our random little Billy, getting RetroArch from Steam, grabbing the SNES core files and a rom of his choice, let's say good old Super Mario All-Stars. Classic, effective, lots of fun ahead. Except that Nintendo doesn't want that.

First step, Nintendo uses laws to either pressure Steam into closing doors with RetroArch/blocking any console-related core to be used with the Steam version or directly attack RetroArch for distributing a program that helps pirating their games. Either way, you have an excuse for Ninty to follow with a legal attack on RetroArch on the grounds that "Steam concluded it was a morally gray program on their platform, we don't want to be associated with said platform", and getting the rights to force RetroArch to block core compatibility with Nintendo consoles.

Next step, other console-related companies do the exact same procedure, blocking RetroArch Steam out of any usefulness, making users' money useless and throwing more shade on RetroArch, allowing one of the companies to pull a push to deplatform them wherever their program shows up. And considering every console-related company gets lots and lots money with disguised emulators (mini consoles, ports, compilations), it is obvious they'll pull that.

This is how a good multi-emulation tool dies. With thunderous applause.

 

[Kioku]

What I'm curious about is what brought this on... Seemingly out of nowhere they announce this.. Why bring it to Steam? It is, in fact, a tool for piracy. Even if you advocate the backup functionality, how many people actually use tools like that? Guess we'll see how this turns out.