Tutorial
Updated
How to use the latest RetroArch on Wii U
I was going to write up my own tutorial on setting up Retroarch, but behold there already exists such a detailed guide with all the info you need about running Retroarch on the wiiu. Visit this thread: https://gbatemp.net/threads/retroarch-wiiu-wip.447670/
UPDATED FEB 23 2018
Setting up Retroarch is simple, all you gotta do is:
1) Download the latest Retroarch (Should be a file called Retroarch_rpx.7z with the most recent date)
2) Add the XMB menu files to your SD (In SD:/retroarch/media/xmb/ )
However there are two ways of setting up Retroarch.
A) Traditional
The first is the traditional way of loading cores from the retroarch menu then loading a rom for that core. This is for users more familiar with retroarch to begin with.
B) Homebrew Launcher indivisual cores
The second type of setup has you running the cores from Homebrew Launcher indivisually so you won't have to switch cores in retroarch. It'll automatically load up with the core you launched from Homebrew Launcher. Remember that cores are emulators
If you chose to go with the first type of setup, you would open "Retroarch_rpx.7z", then drag the retroarch folder to your SD card's root. It comes with all the cores so you may want to shave off some by deleting the ones you don't want. They're big in size. Then you'll need the retroarch app from wiiu/apps/retroarch. You'll have one single Retroarch app in Homebrew Launcher and can load other cores from retroarch's menu by choosing "Load core"
If you went with the second type of setup, you would open "Retroarch_rpx.7z" then drag the wiiu folder to your SD card. This would come with every core so be sure to delete the ones you don't want to save space. Now when you load Homebrew Launcher, you'll be able to choose which core you want like Snes9x2010 for example. This setup will litter your Homebrew Launcher list with emulators, unless you make use of retro launcher, or rename all the cores to begin its filename with z so that it appears at the end of Homebrew Launcher.
There's also a Retroarch channel, but I wouldn't recommend it as it black screens if you've launched Haxchi for Homebrew Launcher before. Also launching Retroarch channel then trying to launch Haxchi would black screen. They just aren't compatible with each other. You'd have to go to system settings to refresh the system's memory each time and remember what you've launched. It works better if you're a CBHC user and you don't use the mii maker exploit. The channel works just like the first type of setup where you must load the core then load a rom. Which means you must use the retroarch folder from the latest release zip, not the wiiu folder.
Emulator/Core suggestions
SNES: Snes9x2010
NES: FCEUMM
Gameboy: Gambatte
Gameboy Advance: mGBA
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive: GenesisPlusGX
Doom: Prboom (Plays all Doom wads, including Ultimate Doom, Doom 2, Plutonia Experiment, TNT)
Call me basic, I never played any other oldschool systems like the turbogfx or neogeo. But cores for these do exist as well. This isn't a definitive suggestion list so you may prefer another core like Nestopia for example. The cores I use work flawless so I'm okay with it.
UPDATED FEB 23 2018
Setting up Retroarch is simple, all you gotta do is:
1) Download the latest Retroarch (Should be a file called Retroarch_rpx.7z with the most recent date)
2) Add the XMB menu files to your SD (In SD:/retroarch/media/xmb/ )
However there are two ways of setting up Retroarch.
A) Traditional
The first is the traditional way of loading cores from the retroarch menu then loading a rom for that core. This is for users more familiar with retroarch to begin with.
B) Homebrew Launcher indivisual cores
The second type of setup has you running the cores from Homebrew Launcher indivisually so you won't have to switch cores in retroarch. It'll automatically load up with the core you launched from Homebrew Launcher. Remember that cores are emulators
If you chose to go with the first type of setup, you would open "Retroarch_rpx.7z", then drag the retroarch folder to your SD card's root. It comes with all the cores so you may want to shave off some by deleting the ones you don't want. They're big in size. Then you'll need the retroarch app from wiiu/apps/retroarch. You'll have one single Retroarch app in Homebrew Launcher and can load other cores from retroarch's menu by choosing "Load core"
If you went with the second type of setup, you would open "Retroarch_rpx.7z" then drag the wiiu folder to your SD card. This would come with every core so be sure to delete the ones you don't want to save space. Now when you load Homebrew Launcher, you'll be able to choose which core you want like Snes9x2010 for example. This setup will litter your Homebrew Launcher list with emulators, unless you make use of retro launcher, or rename all the cores to begin its filename with z so that it appears at the end of Homebrew Launcher.
There's also a Retroarch channel, but I wouldn't recommend it as it black screens if you've launched Haxchi for Homebrew Launcher before. Also launching Retroarch channel then trying to launch Haxchi would black screen. They just aren't compatible with each other. You'd have to go to system settings to refresh the system's memory each time and remember what you've launched. It works better if you're a CBHC user and you don't use the mii maker exploit. The channel works just like the first type of setup where you must load the core then load a rom. Which means you must use the retroarch folder from the latest release zip, not the wiiu folder.
Emulator/Core suggestions
SNES: Snes9x2010
NES: FCEUMM
Gameboy: Gambatte
Gameboy Advance: mGBA
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive: GenesisPlusGX
Doom: Prboom (Plays all Doom wads, including Ultimate Doom, Doom 2, Plutonia Experiment, TNT)
Call me basic, I never played any other oldschool systems like the turbogfx or neogeo. But cores for these do exist as well. This isn't a definitive suggestion list so you may prefer another core like Nestopia for example. The cores I use work flawless so I'm okay with it.
Last edited by MattKimura,
