Editing RetroArch

{{Note| Imported from Wikipedia. Doing cleanup as we don't utilize some of their extensions..yet.}}

{{Infobox software
| name = RetroArch
| logo = retroarch-plain-logo.xcf
| developer = The Libretro Team
| released = {{start date and age|2010|05|26}}
| latest release version = 1.7.5
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2018|10|02}}
| repo = {{URL|https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch}}
| programming_language = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]]
| operating system = [[GNU/Linux]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]], [[FreeBSD]], [[macOS]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[Windows NT 3.51]] and later
| platform = [[IA-32|IA-32 (x86)]], [[x86-64|x86-64 (x64)]], [[ARMv7]], [[AArch64]], [[PowerPC]], [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]], [[Cell (microprocessor)|Cell]]
| language = [[English language|English]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Korean language|Korean]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]
| genre = [[Video game console emulator]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GPLv3]]
| website = {{URL | http://www.retroarch.com/}}
}}
'''RetroArch''' is the reference implementation of the [[libretro]] [[Application programming interface|API]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/blob/master/libretro-common/include/libretro.h|title=libretro/RetroArch|website=GitHub}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples|title=libretro/libretro-samples|website=GitHub}}</ref> It is free, [[open-source software|open-source]], [[cross-platform]] software, licensed under the [[GNU GPLv3]].

It is described as a [[Front-end (computing)|front-end]] for [[emulator]]s, [[game engine]]s, [[video game]]s, [[Digital media player|media players]] and other applications, designed to be fast, lightweight, portable and without dependencies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libretro.com/index.php/home-2/|title=Home – Libretro|website=www.libretro.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref>

RetroArch runs programs converted into dynamic libraries called libretro cores, using several [[user interface]]s such as command-line interface, a few [[graphical user interface]]s (GUI) optimized for [[gamepad]]s (the most famous one being called XMB, a clone of Sony's [[XrossMediaBar|XMB]]), several input, audio and video drivers, plus other sophisticated features like dynamic rate control, audio filters, multi-pass [[shader]]s, [[netplay]], gameplay rewinding, cheats etc.

RetroArch has been ported to many platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.retroarch.com/index.php?page=platforms|title=RetroArch|website=www.retroarch.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lakka.tv/doc/Hardware-support/|title=Lakka documentation - Hardware support|website=www.lakka.tv|language=en|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref> It can run on several PC operating systems ([[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[OS X]], [[GNU/Linux]]), home consoles ([[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii U]], etc.), handheld consoles ([[PlayStation Vita]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wololo.net/2015/09/20/the-retroarch-ps-vita-port-we-wont-talk-about/|title=The retroarch PS Vita port we won't talk about|date=2015-09-20|website=Wololo.net|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref> [[New Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo 3DS]], etc.), on smartphones ([[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.redmondpie.com/download-retroarch-emulator-ipa-on-ios-10-no-jailbreak-required/|title=Download RetroArch Emulator IPA On iOS 10 [No Jailbreak Required]|work=Redmond Pie|date=2017-07-17|access-date=2017-08-05|language=en-US}}</ref> etc.), embedded systems ([[Raspberry Pi]], [[ODROID]], etc.) and even on web browsers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://buildbot.libretro.com/web/|title=RetroArch Web Player|website=buildbot.libretro.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref> by using the [[Emscripten]] compiler.

== History ==
Formerly known as SSNES, initially based on pseudonymous programmer [[higan (emulator)|byuu]]'s ''libretro'' predecessor ''libsnes'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/libretro/snes9x2010/wiki/Libsnes|title=Libsnes - libretro/snes9x2010 Wiki|publisher=GitHub}}</ref> it began its development in 2010 with Hans-Kristian "themaister" Arntzen committing the first change on [[GitHub]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/commit/eed8e2bed2d0d7dfe51834d6c27714472017cb6e|title=SSNES · libretro/RetroArch@eed8e2b|website=GitHub|language=en|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref> It was intended as a replacement to [[Higan (emulator)|bsnes]]'s [[Qt (software)|Qt]]-based interface<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=98044|title=SSNES - The SNES emulator that sucks less. / Community Contributions / Arch Linux Forums|website=bbs.archlinux.org|language=en|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref> but it grew to support more emulation "cores". On April 21, 2012, SSNES was officially renamed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/commit/9ab51ad23ad0b9c4a2b93b86c69b25aa0c66d9e2|title=SSNES · libretro/RetroArch@9ab51ad2|website=GitHub|language=en|access-date=2017-08-16}}</ref> to RetroArch to reflect this change in direction.

RetroArch's version 1.0.0.0 was released on January 11, 2014 and at the time was available on 7 distinct platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libretro.com/index.php/retroarch-v1-0-0-0-release-information/|title=RetroArch v1.0.0.0 release information – Libretro|website=www.libretro.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref>

On February 16, 2016, RetroArch became one of the first ever applications to implement support for the [[Vulkan (API)|Vulkan]] graphics API, having done so on the same day of the API's official release day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libretro.com/index.php/day-1-vulkan-support/|title=Day 1 Vulkan support – Libretro|website=www.libretro.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref>

On November 27, 2016, the Libretro Team announced that, alongside [http://www.lakka.tv Lakka] ([[OpenELEC|LibreELEC]]-based RetroArch [[operating system]]), RetroArch would be on the [[Patreon]] crowdfunding platform to allow providing bounties for developers who fix specific [[software bug]]s and to cover the costs for [[Matchmaking (video games)|matchmaking]] servers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libretro.com/index.php/we-are-now-on-patreon/|title=We are now on Patreon! – Libretro|website=www.libretro.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref>

On December, 2016, GoGames – a company contracted by video game developer and publisher [[Sega]] – approached the RetroArch developers with the intention of using their software in their SEGA Forever project but ultimately the cooperation did not come to fruition due to licensing disagreements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-21-sega-releases-classic-games-on-mobile-for-free-but-at-what-cost|title=Sega releases classic games on mobile, for free, but at what cost?|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|date=2017-06-21|website=Eurogamer|language=en-UK|access-date=2017-08-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-26-sega-defends-sega-forever-launch-after-fan-outcry|title=Sega defends Sega Forever launch after fan outcry|last=Robinson|first=Martin|date=2017-06-26|website=Eurogamer|language=en-UK|access-date=2017-08-03}}</ref>

In April 2018 Input Lag Compensation was added.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/04/better-than-reality-new-emulation-tech-lags-less-than-original-consoles/|title=Better than reality: New emulation tech lags less than original consoles|publisher=}}</ref>

== Features ==
Its major features include:
* Advanced GPU [[shader]] support - A multi-pass post-processing shader [[Pipeline (computing)|pipeline]] allows efficient use of [[image scaling]] algorithms, emulation of complex [[CRT display|CRT]], [[NTSC]] video artifacts and other effects;
* [https://github.com/libretro/libretro.github.com/raw/master/documents/ratecontrol.pdf Dynamic Rate Control] to synchronize video and audio while smoothing out timing imperfections;
* [[FFmpeg]] recording - Built-in support for [[lossless]] video recording using FFmpeg's [[libavcodec]];
* Gamepad [[abstraction layer]] called Retropad;
* [[Gamepad]] auto-configuration - Zero-configuration needed from the user after plugging a gamepad in;
* [[Peer-to-peer]] [[netplay]] that uses a [[rollback]] technique similar to [[GGPO]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://retroarch.com/index.php?page=netplay|title=RetroArch|website=retroarch.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-02}}</ref>
* Audio [[Digital signal processor|DSP]] plugins like an [[Equalization (audio)|equalizer]], reverb and other effects;
* Advanced savestate features - Automatic savestate loading, disabling SRAM overwritting, etc.;
* Frame-by-frame gameplay rewinding at the press of a button;
* Button overlays for [[touchscreen]] devices like smartphones;
* [[Thumbnail]]s of game [[Video game packaging|boxarts]];
* Low input and audio lag options;
* Automatically build categorized playlists by scanning directories for games/ROMs;
* Multiple interfaces including: [[Command-line interface|CLI]], XMB (optimized for [[gamepad]]s), GLUI/MaterialUI (optimized for touch devices) and RGUI (available everywhere);
* [[ROM image|Game ROM]] scanner - Automatically constructs [[playlist]]s by comparing the [[Hash function|hashsums]] of a [[Directory (computing)|directory]]'s files against databases of hashsums of known good game copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.libretro.com/guides/roms-playlists-thumbnails/#retroarch-playlist-scanner|title=ROMs, Playlists, and Thumbnails - Libretro Docs|website=docs.libretro.com}}</ref>
* Libretro [[database]] of cores, games, cheats, etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/libretro/libretro-database|title=libretro/libretro-database|website=GitHub}}</ref>
* [[OpenGL]] and [[Vulkan API]] support.

== Supported systems ==
RetroArch can run any libretro core. While RetroArch is available for many platforms, the availability of a specific core varies per platform.

Below is a non-exhaustive table of which systems are available to RetroArch and what project the core is based on:
{| class="wikitable"
!System
!Based on
|-
|[[3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]]
|4DO
|-
|[[Arcade game|Arcade]]
|[[MAME]]

[[MESS]]

FinalBurnAlpha
|-
|[[Atari 2600]]
|[[Stella (emulator)|Stella]]
|-
|[[Atari 5200]]
|Atari800
|-
|[[Atari 7800]]
|ProSystem
|-
|[[Atari Jaguar]]
|Virtual Jaguar
|-
|[[Atari Lynx]]
|[[Mednafen]]

Handy
|-
|[[Atari Falcon]]
|Hatari
|-
|[[Bomberman]]
|Mr. Boom
|-
|[[Cave Story]]
|NXEngine
|-
|[[CHIP-8]]
|Emux
|-
|[[ColecoVision]]
|blueMSX
|-
|[[Commodore 64]]
|VICE
|-
|[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]
|PrBoom
|-
|[[Dreamcast]]
|Redream

Reicast
|-
|[[Famicom Disk System]]
|[[Nestopia]]

[[Higan (emulator)|higan]]
|-
|[[FFmpeg]]
|FFmpeg
|-
|[[Game Boy]] / [[Game Boy Color|Color]]
|Emux

Gambatte

SameBoy

TGB Dual

[[Higan (emulator)|higan]]
|-
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|[[Mednafen]]

gpSP

Meteor

mGBA

[[VisualBoyAdvance]]
|-
|[[GameCube]]
|[[Dolphin (emulator)|Dolphin]]
|-
|[[Game Gear]]
|[[Genesis Plus|Genesis Plus GX]]
|-
|[[MSX]]
|fMSX

blueMSX
|-
|[[NeoGeo Pocket|Neo Geo Pocket]] / [[Neo Geo Pocket Color|Color]]
|Mednafen
|-
|[[NEC PC-98]]
|Neko Project II
|-
|[[Nintendo 64]]
|[[Mupen64Plus]]
|-
|[[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|[[Higan (emulator)|higan]]

[[FCEUX|Emux]]

FCEUmm

[[Nestopia]] UE

QuickNES
|-
|[[Nintendo DS]]
|DeSmuME
|-
|[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|[[Citra (emulator)|Citra]]
|-
|[[Odyssey²]]
|[[O2EM]]
|-
|[[PC-FX]]
|[[Mednafen]]
|-
|[[32X]]
|Picodrive
|-
|[[Sega CD|Mega CD/Sega CD]]
|[[Genesis Plus|Genesis Plus GX]]
|-
|[[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]]
|[[Genesis Plus|Genesis Plus GX]]
|-
|[[Master System]]
|PicoDrive

[[Genesis Plus|Genesis Plus GX]]
|-
|[[PlayStation Portable]]
|[[PPSSPP]]
|-
|[[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
|[[Mednafen]]

PCSX ReARMed
|-
|[[Pokémon Mini]]
|PokeMini
|-
|[[Quake (video game)|Quake 1]]
|TyrQuake
|-
|[[Sega Saturn]]
|uoYabause
[[Mednafen]]
|-
|[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
|[[Bsnes]]

[[Higan (emulator)|higan]]

[[Snes9x]]
|-
|[[Tomb Raider (1996 video game)|Tomb Raider]]
|OpenLara
|-
|[[TurboGrafx-16]] / [[SuperGrafx]]
|[[Mednafen]]
|-
|[[TurboGrafx-CD]]
|[[Mednafen]]
|-
|[[Vectrex]]
|VecXGL
|-
|[[Virtual Boy]]
|[[Mednafen]]
|-
|[[WonderSwan]]
|[[Mednafen]]
|-
|[[ZX Spectrum]]
|Fuse
|-
|[[ZX81]]
|EightyOne
|}