Retro Core Access 2026.09.21.1 - Digimon World 2 controller update

Retro Core Access is a Windows x64 accessibility project, starting with Digimon World 2 and intended to support more cores over time.

Current build: 2026.09.21.1 — controller navigation update. The installer filename and download link stay the same across revisions. This update includes the DS/VBA-M controller navigation layout in both the software and hardware DW2 cores.

Download or update

Download the Windows installer.

• New users: run the installer. It creates a separate per-user application named RetroArch Accessibility in the Start menu.
• Existing users: download the installer again, close RetroArch Accessibility, and run it. It updates the existing installation and preserves saves, save states, settings, controller profiles, games, BIOS files and added cores. The README and installer file properties identify revision 2026.09.21.1.

The installer bundles the cores; it does not fetch future updates automatically. The two accessibility cores remain protected from RetroArch's ordinary core updater. Future installer revisions will use this same download link.

Use your own USA Digimon World 2 game image (SLUS_011.93) and PlayStation BIOS. Put the BIOS in the installation's system folder. Choose Load Core, then Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX - DW2 Accessibility), then Load Content and your CUE, CHD or M3U file. Keep a BIN beside its CUE. The Beetle PSX HW variant is included too. Games and BIOS files are not included.

Speech is enabled on first launch. NVDA is used when running, with Windows speech as the fallback. The installer is unsigned.

Controller navigation

On player 1's controller, hold L2 / left trigger, then:

• D-pad Left/Right: previous/next navigation category.
• D-pad Up/Down: previous/next target.
• Left-stick click (L3): start or stop guidance.
• Left face button — Square / Xbox X: repeat the target or current direction.
• Top face button — Triangle / Xbox Y: read location and coordinates.

Held directions repeat. Release the shortcut buttons and center the sticks before resuming play. Inputs still held after releasing L2 stay blocked until released, so navigation shortcuts do not also move your character or select game options. Bindings follow RetroPad positions after any frontend remapping.

Core Options > Input > DW2 Controller Navigation is enabled by default. Disable it if you need L2 for ordinary gameplay. Keyboard navigation remains available: Home/End changes category, Page Up/Page Down changes target, Delete repeats the target or guidance, and Numpad Enter starts or stops guidance. Scroll Lock toggles Game Focus when needed.

This revision also makes start/stop guidance cancel pending and resumed routes, including story guidance, and adds location reading for native city scenes. Menus, dialogue, battle details, named NPCs, domain objects, floor announcements, direct portal guidance and story objectives remain included.

Help test it

Please report problems on this fork. Include build 2026.09.21.1, software or HW core, screen reader, controller model if relevant, game location/floor, the inputs you pressed, expected speech and actual speech. Exact spoken text is helpful.

This is an early public test build. The controller implementation passed 168 applicable automated checks and an independent code review. Both matched software and hardware builds booted the game and delivered recorded speech. The rebuilt installer was checked for fresh installation, upgrade, recovery, removal and preservation of player data, including an upgrade from the first published installer. Physical-controller feel, human listening and a complete playthrough still need tester coverage.

Sources and verification

• RetroArch-Accessibility-2026.09.21-Win64-Sources.zip: corresponding frontend, core and packaging sources for this revision.
• README.txt: setup, controls and update instructions.
• BUILD-SOURCES.txt: source revisions and dependency/build instructions.
• SHA256SUMS.txt: checksums for the current installer, sources and text files. Filenames are stable; checksums change with each revision.

Packaging source: 9b212b0. Core source: 24ba198. The release tag retains its original commit; use these revision links or the companion Sources ZIP for the current installer sources. The proposed frontend speech connection remains RetroArch PR #19603.

Community accessibility work by buu420, based on RetroArch, Beetle PSX/Mednafen and their contributors. NVDA Controller Client is by NV Access and contributors. Licenses are included.