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Leaf v0.6.0 - PortMaster, Itch.io, and Safer Saves

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@Helaas Helaas released this 17 Jul 17:27
· 79 commits to main since this release
v0.6.0
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Leaf v0.6.0 - PortMaster, Itch.io, and Safer Saves

Leaf v0.6.0 adds optional PortMaster and Itch.io apps, a faster Game Boy Advance core, and safer saves when switching cores, plus a Beta update channel and a round of launcher, controls, and app fixes.

PortMaster

  • PortMaster is now available as an optional app in Pak Rat. Open Menu → Actions → Pak Rat to install it; it is not bundled with the base Leaf download.
  • Ports installed through PortMaster appear in Leaf's Ports library and launch directly from the launcher.
  • The manager handles first-time setup, updates, repairs, and the extra compatibility support the MLP1 needs. Leaf improves launch and fullscreen behavior across many armhf, SDL2, Godot, Java, Ren'Py, Pyxel, and LÖVE ports, defaults games to the Nintendo button layout, and can repair its Leaf integration after an update.
  • This integration is unofficial and maintained by Leaf. Please bring MLP1 issues to Leaf rather than the official PortMaster support channels.

Itch.io

  • Itch.io is now available as an optional app in Pak Rat. Open Menu → Actions → Pak Rat to install it; it is not bundled with the base Leaf download.
  • Browse, search, filter, and sort itch.io console homebrew for GB, GBC, GBA, NES, Mega Drive, PICO-8, and PlayStation.
  • Download anonymous free and pay-what-you-want games without an account. An optional itch.io API key adds downloads for paid games already owned by that account.
  • ZIP and 7z archives are inspected before extraction, and multi-file PlayStation and PICO-8 games are kept together correctly.
  • Choose either mounted SD card and an optional subfolder. New games receive launcher artwork and their itch.io title automatically, then appear after a Leaf library rescan. The app can also manage its installed files, artwork, saves, and save states.
  • Optional soundtrack downloads go into Leaf's Music library for Disco Boy, while a cached catalogue keeps browsing useful when itch.io is temporarily unavailable.
  • This app is unofficial and is not affiliated with itch.io. API keys are stored only on the SD card and are not encrypted; the app explains this before saving one.

Game Boy Advance and safer saves

  • Added gpSP as a faster alternate GBA core. mGBA remains the default for broader compatibility; press X on a game, choose Core, then select gpSP to try it. In matched testing, gpSP reached roughly 1.9× mGBA's fast-forward rate. Switch back to mGBA if a game misbehaves or depends on strict real-time-clock behavior.
  • RetroArch saves and save states are now separated by core. Switching a game between mGBA and gpSP—or between other alternate cores—will no longer load an incompatible state or overwrite the other core's progress.
  • Existing saves and states from older Leaf versions are recovered conservatively: Leaf copies them into the default core's folder when ownership is clear, keeps the originals, and never overwrites a file already there.

Updates and controls

  • System Update now lets you choose between the Stable and Beta channels. Stable remains the default; switching to Beta requires confirmation and is clearly highlighted. Changing channels immediately checks again for the appropriate release.
  • Remapping controls inside RetroArch is now practical on the device: the binding screen listens only to the selected controller port and shows the familiar MLP1 button names instead of keyboard and mouse inputs.

Launcher and appearance

  • Fresh cards now get the recommended empty ROM folders automatically, making it clearer where each system's games belong. Existing folders and aliases are left alone.
  • Favorites are sorted alphabetically.
  • Cover Flow uses the system icon when artwork is missing, and short lists stop cleanly at each end instead of wrapping around. Refreshed system icons and better thumbnail caching also keep artwork-heavy lists looking more consistent and scrolling more smoothly.
  • Added Ebony and Birch, a matching pair of grayscale themes.
  • The custom color picker can now create muted and desaturated colors using L2/R2. The minimum brightness is a little more usable, and the charging icon now shows the real battery level while animating only the remaining portion.

App fixes

  • Central Scrutinizer is more reliable for larger or slower uploads, gives clearer failure messages, and now chooses a real writable ROM folder when browsing a merged library.
  • Fixed Pak Rat adoption for compatible apps that were installed manually.

Everything from Leaf 0.5.2—including the headphone sleep fix—and all earlier releases is included.

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