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'', it began its development in 2010 with Hans-Kristian "themaister" Arntzen committing the first change on [[GitHub]]. It was intended as a replacement to [[Higan (emulator)|bsnes]]'s [[Qt (software)|Qt]]-based interface but it grew to support more emulation "cores". On April 21, 2012, SSNES was officially renamed 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.

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.

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.

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.

In April 2018 Input Lag Compensation was added.

== 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]];
* 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.
* Libretro [[database]] of cores, games, cheats, etc.
* [[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
|-
|[[Sega Dreamcast|Dreamcast]]
|Redream

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

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

Gambatte

SameBoy

TGB Dual

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

gpSP

Meteor

mGBA

[[VisualBoyAdvance]]
|-
|[[Gamecube|GameCube]]
|[[Dolphin (emulator)|Dolphin]]
|-
|[[Sega Gamegear|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]]
|-
|[[Sega Genesis#Sega 32X|32X]]
|Picodrive
|-
|[[Sega Genesis#Sega CD|Mega CD/Sega CD]]
|[[Genesis Plus|Genesis Plus GX]]
|-
|[[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]]
|[[Genesis Plus|Genesis Plus GX]]
|-
|[[Sega Master System|Master System]]
|PicoDrive

[[Genesis Plus|Genesis Plus GX]]
|-
|[[PlayStation Portable]]
|[[PPSSPP]]
|-
|[[PlayStation|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
|}

[[Category:Emulators]]