Emulation-Station is a frontend available on various platforms, which acts as an organized launcher for all your games. Most notably, it's used as a low-power frontend for Raspberry Pi emulation boxes, or as one of the primary ways to access retro game backups on the Steam Deck and other handheld devices. As of now, Emulation-Station is usable on more than just computers, as the developers have added Android to its list of available platforms.

Emulation-Station DE has been released onto the Amazon Appstore, with plans for a Google Play release eventually, though according to the developers, Google has not allowed the app onto the store thus far. The app costs $5.39 USD, and once purchased, allows you to organize, theme, and display your game collections on your phone, tablet, or Android gaming device. It supports over 120 different game platforms, including RetroArch. By using scrapers, Emulation-Station can display boxarts, information, and screenshots for your games, adding a more unified and organized way to access your game library on the platform.

Documentation on the Android version is available to read on GitLab, while the app can be gotten from Amazon's Android appstore.

Discussion Thread

 

[Deleted member 194275]

this is compatible with emulation station forks? If it is, then it will be awesome for retro handhelds that can boot android. For those who don't know, android emulators are usually faster than linux's ones, but android interface is disgusting.

 

[AndorfRequissa]

this is awesome. emulation station is a great front end

 

[AngryCinnabon]

Just a friendly reminder there's some fakers with malware out there, only buy the real deal!

 

[AndorfRequissa]

Just a friendly reminder there's some fakers with malware out there, only buy the real deal!

i think alot of people are probably used to emulation station being packaged as a free open source project like it used to be. eventually all good things come to an end though and now the free stuff costs money

 

[Axido]

What a scam! It says ES-DE, but is neither in Spanish nor in German.

 

[Deleted member 194275]

Just a friendly reminder there's some fakers with malware out there, only buy the real deal!

you're asking to pirates to not pirate when pirating?

 

[AngryCinnabon]

you're asking to pirates to not pirate when pirating?

I'm asking people to not download the wrong file and get a virus, only reason i mentioned buying it is because it's paid atm.

 

[K3Nv2]

I beta tested the PC port for a while worked out okay on Android this will be awesome.

 

[Jayro]

It'll have the APK released on those APK sites soon enough. Should be free to begin with, Emulation Station has never cost money before... And I'm certainly not gonna start paying for it now.

 

[K3Nv2]

It'll have the APK released on those APK sites soon enough. Should be free to begin with, Emulation Station has never cost money before... And I'm certainly not gonna start paying for it now.

All though I'm all in favor of side loading APKs $5 really isn't all that bad for lifelong updates, looking at the playstore some are charging $5 just for GBA emulation . I see nothing bad about a dev trying to earn some income on a ease of use all in one emulation station. Plus some of those side loaded APKs are never stable enough.

 

[Clydefrosch]

advantages/comparison to daijisho?

as for the price complainers, i think they've earned some level of money in any case.

 

[Kioku]

advantages/comparison to daijisho?

as for the price complainers, i think they've earned some level of money in any case.

The cost of a kids meal though? Guess my kids will go hungry tonight.

 

[lordelan]

You should all watch Russ's video:

 

[Deleted member 194275]

I'm asking people to not download the wrong file and get a virus, only reason i mentioned buying it is because it's paid atm.

there are safe places to download .apk files for free if that is your concern

 

[Jayro]

All though I'm all in favor of side loading APKs $5 really isn't all that bad for lifelong updates, looking at the playstore some are charging $5 just for GBA emulation . I see nothing bad about a dev trying to earn some income on a ease of use all in one emulation station. Plus some of those side loaded APKs are never stable enough.

Problem with this is, I'll buy an app *thinking* I'll get lifetime updates, but the developers usually abandon it shortly after, or get greedy and switch to a subscription-based version going forward. So I'm tired of getting shafted and am VERY selective with the apps I buy.

 

[Ryab]

View attachment 421864​

Emulation-Station is a frontend available on various platforms, which acts as an organized launcher for all your games. Most notably, it's used as a low-power frontend for Raspberry Pi emulation boxes, or as one of the primary ways to access retro game backups on the Steam Deck and other handheld devices. As of now, Emulation-Station is usable on more than just computers, as the developers have added Android to its list of available platforms.

Emulation-Station DE has been released onto the Amazon Appstore, with plans for a Google Play release eventually, though according to the developers, Google has not allowed the app onto the store thus far. The app costs $5.39 USD, and once purchased, allows you to organize, theme, and display your game collections on your phone, tablet, or Android gaming device. It supports over 120 different game platforms, including RetroArch. By using scrapers, Emulation-Station can display boxarts, information, and screenshots for your games, adding a more unified and organized way to access your game library on the platform.

Documentation on the Android version is available to read on GitLab, while the app can be gotten from Amazon's Android appstore.

Discussion Thread

Wow I forgot about EmulationStation. This used to be used rather heavily in the past but kinda died out for awhile.

 

[K3Nv2]

Problem with this is, I'll buy an app *thinking* I'll get lifetime updates, but the developers usually abandon it shortly after, or get greedy and switch to a subscription-based version going forward. So I'm tired of getting shafted and am VERY selective with the apps I buy.

We' ll have to wait and see what they do. I'm sure you know the right sites for APKs but like others have said not everyone does. I've been sideloading for years and even had an instance where I wasn't paying attention and got hit with a virus. Happens to the best of us. In the meantime I'm in favor of just sending the $5 and if they switch to subscription based you can always turn it off in the playstore pretty easily. I'm hoping this is available in Android TV though for shield. If not guess I'll have to risk a virus.

 

[Chary]

but the developers usually abandon it shortly after

While it doesn't speak to the Android version, EmulationStation's been actively worked on for over a decade. I think it's acceptable to trust that they'll continue working on the Android version. Plus, the developers have offered the desktop version for years for free, when they didn't have to. They've been instrumental in RetroPie units and for the Deck. I think a special Android port is worth spending a little on--it doesn't come across as predatory, it seems to be a pet project, and a way for the devs to get some money for their years of work, which is more than fair.

 

[FanNintendo]

Best front end and easy to set up then Launchbox. Dig is worse front end and Im loving the E,S,!