RetroArch 1.9.6 is out now, and available to download on support platforms. This new update has a lot of new features packed in, such as being able to scan large libraries of games faster, preventing pesky audio-related crashes, and improvements to the Direct3D 11 driver on Windows, courtesy of the DuckStation emulator creator. You can grab the update on the Libretro site.

Version 1.9.6 also adds some major optimizations and performance increases for Xbox Series X|S users, as RetroArch can now make use of more resources on the system. When it comes to Dolphin, Series X|S users can play a wide variety of Nintendo GameCube and Wii titles at full speed, while even rendered at 4K resolution. DuckStation also benefits from the update, with equally good 4K PlayStation 1 game emulation.

Release notes

Windows users (with XAudio2 audio driver): RetroArch would previously hang/lock up if you happened to disconnect your current audio device. For instance, this could happen if you were playing with headphones on and you decided to suddenly disconnect your headphones. This has now been fixed. Instead of it locking up the program, instead the sound is just lost instead.

Security concerns over the AI Service on Windows have been addressed.

Improvements to the Windows installer have been made. This should hopefully prevent potentially disasterous situations from happening again. This could happen for instance when the user pointed the installer to install to a directory he should not be pointing to (like C:\Program Files for instance or the desktop), and did not heed the warning.

Linux users should hopefully no longer experience crashes when toggling between normal and threaded video mode with OpenGL thanks to a patch by grant2258.

The Direct3D 11 driver has been improved for Windows users thanks to Stenzek (DuckStation author). Several fixes: tear control support is queried. If not supported, flip mode presentation will not be used and Direct3D will resort back to the legacy blit model instead (less optimal and worse windowed mode). DXGI Alt+Enter handling has been disabled since it would conflict with RetroArch’s fullscreen mode switch. Non-vsynced output without the flip model should also be properly fixed now, when tear support is enabled and flip model is used, it should be possible to fastforward.

Source

 

[the_randomizer]

Also I've had this one request for it that will never happen, but would be so awesome: for SameBoy (and some other GBC cores I believe) you can emulate and link 2 Gameboys at the same time, how I wish someone would update it so one Gameboy displayed to the TV while the other displayed to the Game Pad.

Sigh, the Wii U had features to offer that other devices can't readily accomplish, but it's got such a smaller install base and I imagine no one working on Retroarch really cares about Wii U, that these things will simply never go realized. And that's a shame, it really is wasted potential.

Yeah, so because of that, I've become cynical, and I'm never ever going to mod my Switch because of it.

 

[MikaDubbz]

Yeah, so because of that, I've become cynical, and I'm never ever going to mod my Switch because of it.

I haven't modded my Switch either. However, I do intend to upgrade to the OLED model at which point I'll unlink my Nintendo account on the old Switch, use a new account there and finally feel OK to mod my OG Switch.

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

@Crazynoob458

 

[Issac]

That's all very interesting, and good for console users

I wonder what the next big feature is, that will be available for PC users. I mean, any new feature that will change the way we emulate forever ;P

 

[the_randomizer]

I haven't modded my Switch either. However, I do intend to upgrade to the OLED model at which point I'll unlink my Nintendo account on the old Switch, use a new account there and finally feel OK to mod my OG Switch.

I don't game portably on Switch, I like seeing the full HD on my QLED display. Not the biggest fan of OLED since it's susceptible to burn in.

 

[HideoKojima]

I find the UI very confusing so I'd rather install each emulator at a time when needed.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Nintendo Wii U users = "but my load times, my performance boost"

 

[Jayro]

Can DuckStation (Or any PS1 emulator for that matter) do any kind of texture filtering on a Raspberry Pi 3 or 4? I know PCSX ReARMed can't.

 

[JaNDeRPeiCH]

The vita has 4 snes cores on retroarch and they're all terrible.

Even the port for 3ds consoles are very bad,i want to know if their really test it before they release new updates of retroarch,dont get me wrong i like new updates but dont release if you are %100 works on every console. I prefer bubble3k emulators,their emulators dont fail me.

 

[NinStar]

Pretty much, I used to be quite involved in following the Wii U scene, but ever since the devs turned their attention to the Vita, 3DS and Switch ports, I've become quite cynical. Simply put, @LibretroRetroArc and the others simply don't give two shits about improving the Wii U port. Remember dynarec and all the hype surrounding full speed PS1 and N64 cores? Yeah, not happening.

As I said on the official thread, I would be fine with the Wii U port if they didn't break features with every update and put that on the stable branch... controller support is broken since 1.8.9 and still no fix.

 

[the_randomizer]

As I said on the official thread, I would be fine with the Wii U port if they didn't break features with every update and put that on the stable branch... controller support is broken since 1.8.9 and still no fix.

Not surprised, they don't give two shits about the Wii U port. There is an official discord channel, be a shame if I "accidentally" mentioned it there.

Edit: Whoops.

 

[MikaDubbz]

Not surprised, they don't give two shits about the Wii U port. There is an official discord channel, be a shame if I "accidentally" mentioned it there.

Edit: Whoops.

I assure you, you'd be far from the first to let the Retroarch team know in that Discord and elsewhere that they keep breaking parts of the Wii U build. Still, it can't hurt to have more people pointing it out to them.

 

[the_randomizer]

I assure you, you'd be far from the first to let the Retroarch team know in that Discord and elsewhere that they keep breaking parts of the Wii U build. Still, it can't hurt to have more people pointing it out to them.

Knowing them, they'd probably through a bitch fit and say something like " we don't have enough resources" or some BS.

 

[Goku1992A]

Ehh I'm not a fan of retroarch... I had to ditch it on my VITA. Nothing beats the PSP emulators in Adrenalline. Is it good yes but it's complicated for the average user it's still a good thing they are updating it. Kinda sucks nobody makes standalone emulators anymore.

 

[SG854]

Ehh I'm not a fan of retroarch... I had to ditch it on my VITA. Nothing beats the PSP emulators in Adrenalline. Is it good yes but it's complicated for the average user it's still a good thing they are updating it. Kinda sucks nobody makes standalone emulators anymore.

There's alot of features in retroarch to improve things that makes me not want to use standalone stuff.

BFI, Shaders, run ahead....

 

[Goku1992A]

There's alot of features in retroarch to improve things that makes me not want to use standalone stuff.

BFI, Shaders, run ahead....

Yeah i know but try playing MAME On retroarch it becomes a nightmare lol. But honrestly nowadays i rarely play emulators anymore there is so much new stuff to play. On a side note it is a huge win Series-X can run retroarch and Microsoft doesn't care. And if people pay attention the Xbox One S have a DEV Mode and never was hacked.

So either security is impossible or nobody cares about modding it lol. Sometimes i do regret not buying the Xbox One X but ehh my Xbox One S is sufficant.

 

[the_randomizer]

Ehh I'm not a fan of retroarch... I had to ditch it on my VITA. Nothing beats the PSP emulators in Adrenalline. Is it good yes but it's complicated for the average user it's still a good thing they are updating it. Kinda sucks nobody makes standalone emulators anymore.

That's subjective. It's perfectly easy to use and set up, it's the Vita is too weak to do anything more than NES.

 

[SG854]

Yeah i know but try playing MAME On retroarch it becomes a nightmare lol. But honrestly nowadays i rarely play emulators anymore there is so much new stuff to play. On a side note it is a huge win Series-X can run retroarch and Microsoft doesn't care. And if people pay attention the Xbox One S have a DEV Mode and never was hacked.

So either security is impossible or nobody cares about modding it lol. Sometimes i do regret not buying the Xbox One X but ehh my Xbox One S is sufficant.

The nightmare part is the naming scheme. But I use launch box for that

 

[Moon164]

every time i see a RetroArch update i look for Vita and Wii U info.

View attachment 269237

To this day I expect a native Wii U version of a PS1 emulator, I feel your pain.

 

[the_randomizer]

To this day I expect a native Wii U version of a PS1 emulator, I feel your pain.

As I said, the devs don't care about Wii U anymore. I can't but feel they made the port simply to shut people up, i.e. just to get it out of the way IMO